Kepler-62 f
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-62 f 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 0.0408% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.41 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 35 Earth masses (0.11 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 68.85 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 17.6 g⊕ (172.6 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 55.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-62, Kepler-62 f completes one full revolution every 267.291 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.718 AU (situated at an orbital separation between Mercury's 0.39 AU and Venus's 0.72 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 29.2 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.
✓ Classified as a Temperate Habitable Zone Candidate.
With an estimated equilibrium temperature of 208 K (-65°C / -85°F) and an incident stellar irradiance of 0.50 S⊕ (~681 W/m²), Kepler-62 f orbits within the empirical circumstellar habitable zone where a rocky surface under sufficient atmospheric pressure can maintain liquid surface water.
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 f sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-62 b, Kepler-62 c, Kepler-62 d, Kepler-62 e.
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) | 0.718000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 267.291 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 29.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 68.85 g/cm³ (55.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.5000 S⊕ (~681 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | ★ Temperate Zone |
| Celestial Distance | 981.300 LY (300.874 pc) |