DS Tuc A b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
DS Tuc A b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star DS Tuc A, located approximately 143.7 light-years (44.06 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2019 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.2939% across the stellar disk), this world measures 5.7 Earth radii (0.51 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 413.179 Earth masses (1.3 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 12.3 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 12.72 g⊕ (124.74 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 95.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around DS Tuc A, DS Tuc A b completes one full revolution every 8.138 Earth days. 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 850 K (+577°C / +1071°F) and receiving 317.61 S⊕ (~432,262 W/m²), DS Tuc A b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star DS Tuc A is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G6 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,428 K, a radius of 0.964 R☉, a mass of 1.01 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.724 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.045 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, DS Tuc A shines at apparent V-band magnitude 8.17 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) 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: Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | DS Tuc A |
| Spectral Type | G6 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,428 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9640 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.724 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.000 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.045 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 8.170 · G: 8.319 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 8.138 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.5000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 12.3 g/cm³ (95.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 317.6063 S⊕ (~432,262 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 143.700 LY (44.062 pc) |