Kepler-850 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-850 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-850, located approximately 5418.4 light-years (1661.28 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0224% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.78 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.82 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.73 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.21 g⊕ (11.87 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-850, Kepler-850 b completes one full revolution every 7.193 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0744 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 112.5 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 995 K (+722°C / +1332°F) and receiving 329.28 S⊕ (~448,154 W/m²), Kepler-850 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-850 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,932 K, a radius of 1.09 R☉, a mass of 1.06 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.32 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.89 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-850 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.611 (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-850 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,932 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0900 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.32 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.890 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.611 · G: 15.427 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.074400 AU |
| Orbital Period | 7.193 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 112.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.73 g/cm³ (16.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 329.2830 S⊕ (~448,154 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 5418.400 LY (1661.280 pc) |