Kepler-743 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-743 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-743, located approximately 909.9 light-years (278.99 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.017% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.21 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 1.92 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.98 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.31 g⊕ (12.85 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 14.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-743, Kepler-743 b completes one full revolution every 3.179 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.04166 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 142.6 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 1101 K (+828°C / +1522°F) and receiving 397.25 S⊕ (~540,660 W/m²), Kepler-743 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-743 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,486 K, a radius of 0.85 R☉, a mass of 0.94 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.587 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.86 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.01 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-743 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.66 (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-743 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,486 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8500 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.587 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.010 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.860 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.660 · G: 12.541 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.041660 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.179 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 142.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.5900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.98 g/cm³ (14.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 397.2520 S⊕ (~540,660 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 909.900 LY (278.987 pc) |