Kepler-562 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-562 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-562, located approximately 3238 light-years (992.77 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.2817% across the stellar disk), this world measures 5.21 Earth radii (0.46 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 23.7 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.92 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.87 g⊕ (8.53 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 23.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-562, Kepler-562 b completes one full revolution every 18.009 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1333 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 80.5 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 658 K (+385°C / +725°F) and receiving 67.44 S⊕ (~91,779 W/m²), Kepler-562 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-562 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,575 K, a radius of 0.9 R☉, a mass of 0.93 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.702 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.57 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.04 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-562 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.908 (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-562 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,575 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.702 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.040 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.570 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.908 · G: 14.743 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.133300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 18.009 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 80.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.7300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.92 g/cm³ (23.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 67.4350 S⊕ (~91,779 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3238.000 LY (992.769 pc) |