Kepler-716 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-716 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-716, located approximately 2071.1 light-years (635.01 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1162% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.9 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 8.75 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.98 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.04 g⊕ (10.2 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-716, Kepler-716 b completes one full revolution every 10.372 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.08628 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 90.5 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 720 K (+447°C / +837°F) and receiving 42.49 S⊕ (~57,833 W/m²), Kepler-716 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-716 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,099 K, a radius of 0.78 R☉, a mass of 0.83 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.369 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.57 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-716 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.314 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-716 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-716 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-716 c.
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-716 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,099 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7800 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.369 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.000 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.570 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.314 · G: 15.156 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.086280 AU |
| Orbital Period | 10.372 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 90.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.6600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.98 g/cm³ (19.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 42.4930 S⊕ (~57,833 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2071.100 LY (635.009 pc) |