Kepler-572 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-572 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-572, located approximately 1646 light-years (504.67 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0896% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.58 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 7.18 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.31 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.08 g⊕ (10.59 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 18.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-572, Kepler-572 b completes one full revolution every 17.205 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1192 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 75.4 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 553 K (+280°C / +536°F) and receiving 26.89 S⊕ (~36,596 W/m²), Kepler-572 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-572 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,212 K, a radius of 0.79 R☉, a mass of 0.83 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.413 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.68 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.1 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-572 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.679 (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-572 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,212 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7900 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.413 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.100 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.680 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.679 · G: 14.485 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.119200 AU |
| Orbital Period | 17.205 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 75.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.31 g/cm³ (18.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 26.8890 S⊕ (~36,596 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1646.000 LY (504.667 pc) |