Kepler-62 d
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-62 d is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-62, located approximately 981.3 light-years (300.87 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2013 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.078% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.95 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 14 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 10.41 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 3.68 g⊕ (36.09 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 30 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-62, Kepler-62 d completes one full revolution every 18.164 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.12 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 71.9 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 510 K (+237°C / +459°F) and receiving 17.21 S⊕ (~23,423 W/m²), Kepler-62 d orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-62 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K2 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,925 K, a radius of 0.64 R☉, a mass of 0.69 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.216 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 7 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.37 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-62 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.965 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-62 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 5 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-62 d sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-62 b, Kepler-62 c, Kepler-62 e, Kepler-62 f.
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-62 |
| Spectral Type | K2 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,925 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.6900 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.216 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.370 dex |
| Stellar Age | 7.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.965 · G: 13.720 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 5 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.120000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 18.164 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 71.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.7000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 10.41 g/cm³ (30 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 17.2100 S⊕ (~23,423 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 981.300 LY (300.874 pc) |