CoRoT-7 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
CoRoT-7 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star CoRoT-7, located approximately 521.5 light-years (159.91 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2009 by CoRoT using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 2.83 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 8.4 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.04 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.05 g⊕ (10.3 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around CoRoT-7, CoRoT-7 c completes one full revolution every 3.698 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.046 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 135.3 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The orbit is modeled as circular (e = 0.00), maintaining a constant stellar distance throughout its year.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1099 K (+826°C / +1519°F) and receiving 242.72 S⊕ (~330,340 W/m²), CoRoT-7 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star CoRoT-7 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G9 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,256 K, a radius of 0.8643 R☉, a mass of 0.899 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.511 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.8 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.06 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, CoRoT-7 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.728 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The CoRoT-7 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with CoRoT-7 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside CoRoT-7 b, CoRoT-7 d.
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-7 |
| Spectral Type | G9 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,256 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8643 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8990 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.511 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.060 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.800 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.728 · G: 11.524 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.046000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.698 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 135.3 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 80.0000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.04 g/cm³ (19.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 242.7184 S⊕ (~330,340 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 521.500 LY (159.906 pc) |