Kepler-778 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-778 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-778, located approximately 3059.9 light-years (938.17 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.04% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.68 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.46 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.02 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.23 g⊕ (12.06 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-778, Kepler-778 b completes one full revolution every 3.756 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0453 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 131.2 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 977 K (+704°C / +1299°F) and receiving 216.57 S⊕ (~294,749 W/m²), Kepler-778 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-778 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,102 K, a radius of 0.77 R☉, a mass of 0.81 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.36 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.25 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.09 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-778 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.959 (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-778 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,102 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7700 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.36 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.090 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.250 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.959 · G: 15.751 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.045300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.756 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 131.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.4300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.02 g/cm³ (16.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 216.5680 S⊕ (~294,749 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3059.900 LY (938.168 pc) |