Kepler-922 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-922 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-922, located approximately 1749.2 light-years (536.32 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0196% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.42 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.6 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.01 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.29 g⊕ (12.65 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-922, Kepler-922 b completes one full revolution every 0.938 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.01795 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 208.1 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 1876 K (+1603°C / +2917°F) and receiving 2,142.63 S⊕ (~2,916,125 W/m²), Kepler-922 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-922 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,671 K, a radius of 0.93 R☉, a mass of 0.95 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.803 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.37 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.05 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-922 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.863 (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-922 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,671 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9300 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.803 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.050 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.370 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.863 · G: 13.745 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.017950 AU |
| Orbital Period | 0.938 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 208.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.4500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.01 g/cm³ (15.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 2142.6340 S⊕ (~2,916,125 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1749.200 LY (536.323 pc) |