Kepler-79 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-79 c 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 0.0686% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.76 Earth radii (0.34 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 4.6 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.48 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.33 g⊕ (3.24 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 12.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-79, Kepler-79 c completes one full revolution every 27.403 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.19144 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 76 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.038 (ranging from 0.1842 AU at periapsis to 0.1987 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 734 K (+461°C / +862°F) and receiving 79.77 S⊕ (~108,560 W/m²), Kepler-79 c 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 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-79 b, 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) | 0.191440 AU |
| Orbital Period | 27.403 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 76 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.03800 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.4800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.48 g/cm³ (12.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 79.7650 S⊕ (~108,560 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3329.100 LY (1020.720 pc) |