CoRoT-22 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
CoRoT-22 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star CoRoT-22, located approximately 2045.5 light-years (627.16 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by CoRoT using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1551% across the stellar disk), this world measures 4.88 Earth radii (0.44 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 12.2 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.58 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.51 g⊕ (5 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around CoRoT-22, CoRoT-22 b completes one full revolution every 9.756 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.092 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 102.6 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.077 carries the world between 0.0849 AU at periapsis and 0.0991 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 885 K (+612°C / +1134°F) and receiving 121.88 S⊕ (~165,884 W/m²), CoRoT-22 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star CoRoT-22 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G3 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,939 K, a radius of 1.136 R☉, a mass of 1.099 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.44 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.3 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.17 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, CoRoT-22 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.82 (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: CoRoT · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | CoRoT-22 |
| Spectral Type | G3 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,939 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1360 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0990 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.44 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.170 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.300 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.820 · G: 13.731 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.092000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 9.756 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 102.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.07700 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.7490° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.58 g/cm³ (17.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 121.8837 S⊕ (~165,884 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2045.500 LY (627.158 pc) |