FU Tau b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
FU Tau b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star FU Tau, located approximately 435.4 light-years (133.5 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2008 by Spitzer Space Telescope using the Imaging detection technique (resolved directly via high-contrast coronagraphic or interferometric imaging), this world measures 12.2 Earth radii (1.09 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 5085.28 Earth masses (16 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 15.44 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 34.17 g⊕ (335.09 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 228.4 km/s.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 2375 K (+2102°C / +3816°F), FU Tau b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star FU Tau is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M7.25 with an effective photospheric temperature of 2,838 K, a mass of 0.05 M☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.001 Gyr. From Earth, FU Tau shines at apparent Gaia G-band magnitude 15.241 (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: Spitzer Space Telescope · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | FU Tau |
| Spectral Type | M7.25 |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 2,838 K |
| Stellar Radius | — |
| Stellar Mass | 0.0500 M☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | 0.001 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | · G: 15.241 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 800.000000 AU |
| Orbital Period | — |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 15.44 g/cm³ (228.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.0000 S⊕ |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 435.400 LY (133.495 pc) |