Kepler-901 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-901 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-901, located approximately 828 light-years (253.87 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0486% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.37 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.45 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.25 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.31 g⊕ (12.85 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-901, Kepler-901 b completes one full revolution every 3.517 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0378 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 116.9 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 704 K (+431°C / +808°F) and receiving 68.72 S⊕ (~93,532 W/m²), Kepler-901 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-901 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,184 K, a radius of 0.57 R☉, a mass of 0.59 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.089 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.8 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.3 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-901 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.85 (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-901 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,184 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.5700 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5900 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.089 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.300 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.800 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.850 · G: 14.680 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.037800 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.517 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 116.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.4900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.25 g/cm³ (15 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 68.7230 S⊕ (~93,532 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 828.000 LY (253.867 pc) |