Kepler-60 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-60 c is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-60, located approximately 3343.4 light-years (1025.1 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2012 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0192% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.9 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.85 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.1 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.07 g⊕ (10.49 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-60, Kepler-60 c completes one full revolution every 8.919 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.08422 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 102.7 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.039 (ranging from 0.0809 AU at periapsis to 0.0875 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1023 K (+750°C / +1382°F) and receiving 236.00 S⊕ (~321,196 W/m²), Kepler-60 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-60 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,905 K, a radius of 1.257 R☉, a mass of 1.041 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.724 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 8.91 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.09 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-60 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.95 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-60 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-60 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-60 b, Kepler-60 d.
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-60 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,905 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.2570 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0410 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.724 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.090 dex |
| Stellar Age | 8.910 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.950 · G: 13.913 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.084220 AU |
| Orbital Period | 8.919 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 102.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.03900 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.3200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.1 g/cm³ (15.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 236.0000 S⊕ (~321,196 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3343.400 LY (1025.100 pc) |