Kepler-772 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-772 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-772, located approximately 3686.2 light-years (1130.21 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0226% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.82 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.97 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.63 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.2 g⊕ (11.77 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-772, Kepler-772 b completes one full revolution every 12.992 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.11153 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 93.4 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 866 K (+593°C / +1099°F) and receiving 264.58 S⊕ (~360,088 W/m²), Kepler-772 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-772 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,714 K, a radius of 1.11 R☉, a mass of 0.98 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.178 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 8.13 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-772 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.145 (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-772 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,714 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1100 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.178 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 8.130 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.145 · G: 13.956 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.111530 AU |
| Orbital Period | 12.992 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 93.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.6900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.63 g/cm³ (16.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 264.5760 S⊕ (~360,088 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3686.200 LY (1130.210 pc) |