CoRoT-31 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
CoRoT-31 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star CoRoT-31, located approximately 6541.9 light-years (2005.76 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2020 by CoRoT using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.487% across the stellar disk), this world measures 16.365 Earth radii (1.46 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 266.977 Earth masses (0.84 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 1 g⊕ (9.81 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 45.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around CoRoT-31, CoRoT-31 b completes one full revolution every 4.629 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0586 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 137.7 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.02 (ranging from 0.0574 AU at periapsis to 0.0598 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1665 K (+1392°C / +2538°F) and receiving 727.76 S⊕ (~990,483 W/m²), CoRoT-31 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star CoRoT-31 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G2 IV with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,700 K, a radius of 2.15 R☉, a mass of 1.25 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 4.378 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.7 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, CoRoT-31 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.479 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern 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-31 |
| Spectral Type | G2 IV |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,700 K |
| Stellar Radius | 2.1500 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.2500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 4.378 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.000 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.700 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.479 · G: 15.466 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.058600 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4.629 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 137.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.02000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 83.2000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.34 g/cm³ (45.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 727.7611 S⊕ (~990,483 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 6541.900 LY (2005.760 pc) |