Kepler-790 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-790 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-790, located approximately 2293.4 light-years (703.17 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0624% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.18 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 5.39 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.87 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.13 g⊕ (11.08 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-790, Kepler-790 b completes one full revolution every 13.735 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.101 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 80 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 634 K (+361°C / +682°F) and receiving 38.27 S⊕ (~52,091 W/m²), Kepler-790 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-790 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,208 K, a radius of 0.8 R☉, a mass of 0.84 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.422 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.9 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.05 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-790 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.534 (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-790 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,208 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.422 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.050 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.900 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.534 · G: 15.195 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.101000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 13.735 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 80 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.6400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.87 g/cm³ (17.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 38.2740 S⊕ (~52,091 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2293.400 LY (703.168 pc) |