bet Cnc b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
bet Cnc b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star bet Cnc, located approximately 290.4 light-years (89.05 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Bohyunsan Optical Astronomical Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 12.6 Earth radii (1.12 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 2479 Earth masses (7.8 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 6.83 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 15.61 g⊕ (153.08 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 156.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around bet Cnc, bet Cnc b completes one full revolution every 605.2 Earth days (1.66Julian years) at a semi-major axis of 1.7 AU (corresponding to the middle-system regime between Mars at 1.52 AU and Jupiter at 5.20 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 30.6 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.08 carries the world between 1.564 AU at periapsis and 1.836 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1040 K (+767°C / +1413°F) and receiving 274.85 S⊕ (~374,076 W/m²), bet Cnc b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star bet Cnc is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K4 III with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,092 K, a radius of 47.2 R☉, a mass of 1.7 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 560.424 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.85 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.29 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, bet Cnc shines at apparent V-band magnitude 3.51 (visible to the unaided human eye under dark skies) 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: Bohyunsan Optical Astronomical Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | bet Cnc |
| Spectral Type | K4 III |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,092 K |
| Stellar Radius | 47.2000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.7000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 560.424 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.290 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.850 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 3.510 · G: 3.046 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 1.700000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 605.2 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 30.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.08000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 6.83 g/cm³ (156.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 274.8541 S⊕ (~374,076 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 290.400 LY (89.047 pc) |