Kepler-943 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-943 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-943, located approximately 7503.3 light-years (2300.53 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.3569% across the stellar disk), this world measures 5.93 Earth radii (0.53 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 29.5 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.78 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.84 g⊕ (8.24 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 24.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-943, Kepler-943 b completes one full revolution every 49.77 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.2559 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 55.9 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 455 K (+182°C / +360°F) and receiving 10.16 S⊕ (~13,828 W/m²), Kepler-943 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-943 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,612 K, a radius of 0.91 R☉, a mass of 0.93 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.737 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.27 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.07 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-943 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.76 (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-943 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,612 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9100 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.737 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.070 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.270 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.760 · G: 15.639 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.255900 AU |
| Orbital Period | 49.77 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 55.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.8000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.78 g/cm³ (24.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 10.1600 S⊕ (~13,828 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 7503.300 LY (2300.530 pc) |