Gaia-1 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Gaia-1 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star Gaia-1, located approximately 1186.1 light-years (363.66 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2022 by European Space Agency (ESA) Gaia Satellite using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.76% across the stellar disk), this world measures 13.776 Earth radii (1.23 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 533.952 Earth masses (1.68 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.13 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 2.81 g⊕ (27.56 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 69.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Gaia-1, Gaia-1 b completes one full revolution every 3.053 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.04047 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 144.2 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s).
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1159 K (+886°C / +1627°F) and receiving 426.54 S⊕ (~580,514 W/m²), Gaia-1 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Gaia-1 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,470 K, a radius of 0.952 R☉, a mass of 0.949 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.728 L☉. From Earth, Gaia-1 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.242 (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: European Space Agency (ESA) Gaia Satellite · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | Gaia-1 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,470 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9520 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9490 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.728 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.242 · G: 12.999 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.040470 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.053 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 144.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.7300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.13 g/cm³ (69.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 426.5351 S⊕ (~580,514 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1186.100 LY (363.660 pc) |