Kepler-560 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-560 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-560, located approximately 356.5 light-years (109.31 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.2283% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.72 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.61 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.91 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.22 g⊕ (11.96 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-560, Kepler-560 b completes one full revolution every 18.478 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0899 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 52.9 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.17 carries the world between 0.0746 AU at periapsis and 0.1052 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
✓ Classified as a Temperate Habitable Zone Candidate.
With an estimated equilibrium temperature of 298 K (+25°C / +77°F) and an incident stellar irradiance of 2.46 S⊕ (~3,348 W/m²), Kepler-560 b orbits within the empirical circumstellar habitable zone where a rocky surface under sufficient atmospheric pressure can maintain liquid surface water.
The host star Kepler-560 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,556 K, a radius of 0.33 R☉, a mass of 0.34 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.016 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.07 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.39 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-560 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.66 (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-560 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,556 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.3300 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.3400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.016 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.390 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.070 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.660 · G: 14.751 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.089900 AU |
| Orbital Period | 18.478 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 52.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.17000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.6060° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.91 g/cm³ (16.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 2.4600 S⊕ (~3,348 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | ★ Temperate Zone |
| Celestial Distance | 356.500 LY (109.308 pc) |