Kepler-737 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-737 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-737, located approximately 669 light-years (205.12 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1401% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.96 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.5 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.3 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.17 g⊕ (11.47 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-737, Kepler-737 b completes one full revolution every 28.599 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1422 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 54.1 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 298 K (+25°C / +77°F) and an incident stellar irradiance of 2.30 S⊕ (~3,126 W/m²), Kepler-737 b orbits within the empirical circumstellar habitable zone where a rocky surface under sufficient atmospheric pressure can maintain liquid surface water.
The host star Kepler-737 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,813 K, a radius of 0.48 R☉, a mass of 0.51 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.044 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.89 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.24 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-737 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.971 (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-737 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,813 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.4800 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.044 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.240 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.890 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.971 · G: 15.146 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.142200 AU |
| Orbital Period | 28.599 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 54.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.3 g/cm³ (16.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 2.2970 S⊕ (~3,126 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | ★ Temperate Zone |
| Celestial Distance | 669.000 LY (205.118 pc) |