Kepler-963 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-963 c is a confirmed sub-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-963, located approximately 2516.3 light-years (771.49 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2024 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0035% across the stellar disk), this world measures 0.6 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 0.156 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.98 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 0.43 g⊕ (4.22 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 5.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-963, Kepler-963 c completes one full revolution every 0.92 Earth days.
ℹ️ Thermal & Atmospheric Regime: Current photometric and spectroscopic constraints for Kepler-963 c place it outside the conservative habitable zone definition pending further atmospheric characterization.
The host star Kepler-963 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,169 K, a radius of 0.928 R☉, a mass of 0.821 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.552 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 13.2 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-963 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.091 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-963 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-963 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-963 b.
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-963 |
| Spectral Type | G |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,169 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9280 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8210 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.552 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | 13.200 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.091 · G: 14.912 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 0.92 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.98 g/cm³ (5.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2516.300 LY (771.494 pc) |