Kepler-97 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-97 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-97, located approximately 1307.6 light-years (400.91 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0192% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.48 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.51 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.97 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.6 g⊕ (15.69 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-97, Kepler-97 b completes one full revolution every 2.587 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.03563 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 149.9 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 1328 K (+1055°C / +1931°F) and receiving 767.96 S⊕ (~1,045,199 W/m²), Kepler-97 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-97 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,779 K, a radius of 0.98 R☉, a mass of 0.94 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.961 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 8.42 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.2 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-97 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.994 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-97 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-97 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-97 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-97 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,779 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9800 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.961 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.200 dex |
| Stellar Age | 8.420 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.994 · G: 12.813 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.035630 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.587 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 149.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.6100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.97 g/cm³ (17.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 767.9640 S⊕ (~1,045,199 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1307.600 LY (400.907 pc) |