Kepler-92 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-92 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-92, located approximately 1559 light-years (477.99 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2013 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0358% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.51 Earth radii (0.31 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 64.3 Earth masses (0.2 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 8.2 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 5.22 g⊕ (51.19 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 47.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-92, Kepler-92 b completes one full revolution every 13.749 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.12232 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 96.8 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.17 carries the world between 0.1015 AU at periapsis and 0.1431 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 975 K (+702°C / +1296°F) and receiving 257.78 S⊕ (~350,833 W/m²), Kepler-92 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-92 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,883 K, a radius of 1.7 R☉, a mass of 1.21 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 3.106 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.98 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.138 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-92 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.671 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-92 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-92 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-92 c, Kepler-92 d.
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-92 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,883 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.7000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.2100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 3.106 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.138 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.980 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.671 · G: 11.745 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.122320 AU |
| Orbital Period | 13.749 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 96.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.17000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.1900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 8.2 g/cm³ (47.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 257.7760 S⊕ (~350,833 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1559.000 LY (477.992 pc) |