Kepler-94 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-94 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-94, located approximately 625.9 light-years (191.9 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1793% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.51 Earth radii (0.31 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 10.84 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.38 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.88 g⊕ (8.63 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-94, Kepler-94 b completes one full revolution every 2.508 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.03377 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 146.5 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 997 K (+724°C / +1335°F) and receiving 216.09 S⊕ (~294,104 W/m²), Kepler-94 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-94 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,781 K, a radius of 0.76 R☉, a mass of 0.81 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.271 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.41 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.34 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-94 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.071 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-94 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-94 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-94 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-94 |
| Spectral Type | M0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,781 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.271 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.340 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.410 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.071 · G: 12.857 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.033770 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.508 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 146.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.6100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.38 g/cm³ (19.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 216.0940 S⊕ (~294,104 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 625.900 LY (191.904 pc) |