Kepler-552 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-552 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-552, located approximately 2751.7 light-years (843.69 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1212% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.95 Earth radii (0.35 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 14.8 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.32 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.95 g⊕ (9.32 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 21.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-552, Kepler-552 b completes one full revolution every 5.263 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0612 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 126.5 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The orbit is modeled as circular (e = 0.00), maintaining a constant stellar distance throughout its year.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1103 K (+830°C / +1526°F) and receiving 358.99 S⊕ (~488,591 W/m²), Kepler-552 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-552 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,863 K, a radius of 1.04 R☉, a mass of 1.03 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.147 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.89 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.01 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-552 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.476 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere.
Methodology: Computed using the Schulze-Makuch et al. (2011) weighted metric comparing physical interior (radius, estimated density) and surface thermal regime (escape velocity, equilibrium temperature).
Discovery Facility: Kepler · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | Kepler-552 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,863 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.147 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.010 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.890 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.476 · G: 14.262 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.061200 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.263 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 126.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.5500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.32 g/cm³ (21.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 358.9940 S⊕ (~488,591 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2751.700 LY (843.689 pc) |