Kepler-93 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-93 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-93, located approximately 312.8 light-years (95.91 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0217% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.478 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.66 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 7.96 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 2.13 g⊕ (20.89 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-93, Kepler-93 b completes one full revolution every 4.727 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.05343 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 123 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 1133 K (+860°C / +1580°F) and receiving 275.00 S⊕ (~374,275 W/m²), Kepler-93 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-93 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,669 K, a radius of 0.919 R☉, a mass of 0.911 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.783 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.6 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.18 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-93 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 9.996 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-93 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-93 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-93 c.
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-93 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,669 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9190 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9110 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.783 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.180 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.600 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 9.996 · G: 9.862 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.053430 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4.727 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 123 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.1830° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 7.96 g/cm³ (19.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 275.0000 S⊕ (~374,275 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 312.800 LY (95.912 pc) |