Kepler-79 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-79 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-79, located approximately 3329.1 light-years (1020.72 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2012 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0598% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.51 Earth radii (0.31 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 7.6 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.97 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.62 g⊕ (6.08 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-79, Kepler-79 b completes one full revolution every 13.485 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.11929 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 96.2 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.022 (ranging from 0.1167 AU at periapsis to 0.1219 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 929 K (+656°C / +1213°F) and receiving 205.40 S⊕ (~279,555 W/m²), Kepler-79 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-79 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,389 K, a radius of 1.316 R☉, a mass of 1.244 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.589 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.32 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.06 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-79 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.036 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-79 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 4 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-79 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-79 c, Kepler-79 d, Kepler-79 e.
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-79 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,389 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.3160 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.2440 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.589 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.060 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.320 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.036 · G: 13.883 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 4 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.119290 AU |
| Orbital Period | 13.485 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 96.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.02200 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.7800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.97 g/cm³ (16.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 205.4040 S⊕ (~279,555 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3329.100 LY (1020.720 pc) |