Kepler-879 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-879 c is a confirmed sub-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-879, located approximately 2618 light-years (802.67 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2024 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0013% across the stellar disk), this world measures 0.4 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 0.036 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.1 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 0.22 g⊕ (2.16 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 3.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-879, Kepler-879 c completes one full revolution every 0.647 Earth days.
ℹ️ Thermal & Atmospheric Regime: Current photometric and spectroscopic constraints for Kepler-879 c place it outside the conservative habitable zone definition pending further atmospheric characterization.
The host star Kepler-879 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,457 K, a radius of 1.022 R☉, a mass of 0.974 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.831 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.27 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.05 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-879 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.429 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-879 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-879 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-879 b.
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-879 |
| Spectral Type | G |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,457 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0220 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9740 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.831 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.050 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.270 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.429 · G: 14.238 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 0.647 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.1 g/cm³ (3.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2618.000 LY (802.672 pc) |