Kepler-860 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-860 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-860, located approximately 3445.4 light-years (1056.36 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0785% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.24 Earth radii (0.29 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 10.6 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.72 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.01 g⊕ (9.9 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 20.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-860, Kepler-860 b completes one full revolution every 5.101 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.058 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 123.7 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 1050 K (+777°C / +1431°F) and receiving 233.62 S⊕ (~317,958 W/m²), Kepler-860 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-860 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,836 K, a radius of 1.06 R☉, a mass of 1.04 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.169 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.27 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.09 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-860 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.544 (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-860 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,836 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.169 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.090 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.270 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.544 · G: 15.403 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.058000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.101 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 123.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.72 g/cm³ (20.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 233.6210 S⊕ (~317,958 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3445.400 LY (1056.360 pc) |