Kepler-970 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-970 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-970, located approximately 1081.4 light-years (331.55 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1135% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.609 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 7.31 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.27 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.07 g⊕ (10.49 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 18.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-970, Kepler-970 b completes one full revolution every 16.737 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.139 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 90.4 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The planet follows a highly eccentric trajectory (e = 0.34, swinging from 0.0917 AU at periapsis out to 0.1863 AU at apoapsis), pointing to past dynamical scattering or secular gravitational perturbations.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 464 K (+191°C / +376°F) and receiving 11.11 S⊕ (~15,122 W/m²), Kepler-970 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-970 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,290 K, a radius of 0.71 R☉, a mass of 0.67 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.153 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.105 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.04 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-970 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.21 (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-970 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,290 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7100 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.6700 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.153 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.040 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.105 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.210 · G: 14.806 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.139000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 16.737 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 90.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.34000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.7400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.27 g/cm³ (18.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 11.1110 S⊕ (~15,122 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1081.400 LY (331.545 pc) |