Kepler-949 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-949 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-949, located approximately 1585.5 light-years (486.11 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0962% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.91 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 8.8 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.97 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.04 g⊕ (10.2 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-949, Kepler-949 b completes one full revolution every 8.689 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.07739 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 96.9 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 782 K (+509°C / +948°F) and receiving 58.44 S⊕ (~79,540 W/m²), Kepler-949 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-949 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,403 K, a radius of 0.86 R☉, a mass of 0.89 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.565 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.57 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.01 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-949 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.718 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-949 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-949 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-949 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-949 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,403 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8900 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.565 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.010 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.570 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.718 · G: 14.508 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.077390 AU |
| Orbital Period | 8.689 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 96.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.97 g/cm³ (19.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 58.4420 S⊕ (~79,540 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1585.500 LY (486.105 pc) |