CoRoT-23 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
CoRoT-23 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star CoRoT-23, located approximately 3460.4 light-years (1060.97 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2011 by CoRoT using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.4492% across the stellar disk), this world measures 11.77 Earth radii (1.05 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 889.9 Earth masses (2.8 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.01 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 6.42 g⊕ (62.96 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 97.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around CoRoT-23, CoRoT-23 b completes one full revolution every 3.631 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.048 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 143.8 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.16 carries the world between 0.0403 AU at periapsis and 0.0557 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1660 K (+1387°C / +2529°F) and receiving 530.02 S⊕ (~721,360 W/m²), CoRoT-23 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star CoRoT-23 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,900 K, a radius of 1.61 R☉, a mass of 1.14 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.818 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 7.2 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.05 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, CoRoT-23 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.675 (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-23 |
| Spectral Type | G0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,900 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.6100 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.818 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.050 dex |
| Stellar Age | 7.200 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.675 · G: 15.068 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.048000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.631 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 143.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.16000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.7000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.01 g/cm³ (97.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 530.0221 S⊕ (~721,360 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3460.400 LY (1060.970 pc) |