Kepler-629 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-629 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-629, located approximately 1213.5 light-years (372.05 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0227% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.38 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.48 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.2 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.3 g⊕ (12.75 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-629, Kepler-629 b completes one full revolution every 7.239 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.07107 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 106.8 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 816 K (+543°C / +1009°F) and receiving 103.15 S⊕ (~140,383 W/m²), Kepler-629 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-629 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,444 K, a radius of 0.84 R☉, a mass of 0.93 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.556 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.91 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.01 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-629 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.481 (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-629 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,444 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.556 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.010 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.910 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.481 · G: 13.358 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.071070 AU |
| Orbital Period | 7.239 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 106.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.5300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.2 g/cm³ (15 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 103.1470 S⊕ (~140,383 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1213.500 LY (372.050 pc) |