Kepler-641 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-641 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-641, located approximately 3163.4 light-years (969.92 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0225% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.85 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.08 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.55 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.19 g⊕ (11.67 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-641, Kepler-641 b completes one full revolution every 9.49 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0895 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 102.6 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 926 K (+653°C / +1207°F) and receiving 311.79 S⊕ (~424,343 W/m²), Kepler-641 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-641 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,713 K, a radius of 1.13 R☉, a mass of 1.02 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.22 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 7.08 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.15 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-641 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.807 (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-641 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,713 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1300 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0200 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.22 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.150 dex |
| Stellar Age | 7.080 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.807 · G: 13.763 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.089500 AU |
| Orbital Period | 9.49 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 102.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.4400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.55 g/cm³ (16.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 311.7880 S⊕ (~424,343 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3163.400 LY (969.918 pc) |