Kepler-601 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-601 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-601, located approximately 1353 light-years (414.83 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0486% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.9 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.27 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.43 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.18 g⊕ (11.57 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-601, Kepler-601 b completes one full revolution every 5.379 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.05494 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 111.1 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 833 K (+560°C / +1040°F) and receiving 110.62 S⊕ (~150,552 W/m²), Kepler-601 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-601 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,160 K, a radius of 0.79 R☉, a mass of 0.85 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.397 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.07 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-601 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.151 (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-601 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,160 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7900 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.397 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.070 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.151 · G: 14.001 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.054940 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.379 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 111.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.8100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.43 g/cm³ (16.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 110.6190 S⊕ (~150,552 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1353.000 LY (414.825 pc) |