Kepler-946 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-946 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-946, located approximately 3709.3 light-years (1137.29 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0362% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.93 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.38 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.36 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.18 g⊕ (11.57 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-946, Kepler-946 b completes one full revolution every 11.792 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1002 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 92.4 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 857 K (+584°C / +1083°F) and receiving 124.07 S⊕ (~168,862 W/m²), Kepler-946 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-946 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,665 K, a radius of 0.93 R☉, a mass of 0.94 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.799 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.17 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.09 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-946 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.011 (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-946 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,665 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9300 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.799 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.090 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.170 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.011 · G: 14.923 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.100200 AU |
| Orbital Period | 11.792 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 92.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.36 g/cm³ (16.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 124.0720 S⊕ (~168,862 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3709.300 LY (1137.290 pc) |