Kepler-948 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-948 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-948, located approximately 2831.1 light-years (868.02 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0326% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.85 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.08 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.55 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.19 g⊕ (11.67 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-948, Kepler-948 b completes one full revolution every 7.768 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0749 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 104.9 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 841 K (+568°C / +1054°F) and receiving 126.20 S⊕ (~171,762 W/m²), Kepler-948 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-948 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,679 K, a radius of 0.94 R☉, a mass of 0.96 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.825 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.17 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-948 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.811 (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-948 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,679 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.825 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.170 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.811 · G: 14.786 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.074900 AU |
| Orbital Period | 7.768 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 104.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.6800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.55 g/cm³ (16.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 126.2030 S⊕ (~171,762 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2831.100 LY (868.017 pc) |