BEBOP-3 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
BEBOP-3 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star BEBOP-3, located approximately 388.3 light-years (119.05 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2025 by Haute-Provence Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 14.2 Earth radii (1.27 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 177.348 Earth masses (0.56 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.34 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.88 g⊕ (8.63 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 39.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around BEBOP-3, BEBOP-3 b completes one full revolution every 547 Earth days (1.5Julian years) at a semi-major axis of 1.444 AU (comparable to the inner terrestrial zone between Venus, Earth at 1.00 AU, and Mars at 1.52 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 28.7 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.247 carries the world between 1.0873 AU at periapsis and 1.8007 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 14.200 R⊕, BEBOP-3 b exceeds the empirical ~1.8–2.2 R⊕ Fulton radius valley threshold, indicating a substantial hydrogen-helium or supercritical volatile envelope without a conventional solid terrestrial surface.
The host star BEBOP-3 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,033 K, a radius of 1.414 R☉, a mass of 1.083 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.376 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, BEBOP-3 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 9.259 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) 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: Haute-Provence Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | BEBOP-3 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,033 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.4140 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0830 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.376 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 9.259 · G: 9.101 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 1.444000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 547 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 28.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.24700 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.34 g/cm³ (39.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1.1590 S⊕ (~1,577 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 388.300 LY (119.052 pc) |