GJ 160.2 b

Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization

GJ 160.2 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star GJ 160.2, located approximately 84.3 light-years (25.86 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Multiple Observatories using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 3.17 Earth radii (0.28 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 10.2 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.77 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.02 g⊕ (10 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 20.1 km/s.

In its orbital architecture around GJ 160.2, GJ 160.2 b completes one full revolution every 5.235 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.053 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 110.1 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.06 carries the world between 0.0498 AU at periapsis and 0.0562 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.

⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 737 K (+464°C / +867°F) and receiving 56.96 S⊕ (~77,522 W/m²), GJ 160.2 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.

The host star GJ 160.2 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,347 K, a radius of 0.6552 R☉, a mass of 0.69 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.138 L☉. From Earth, GJ 160.2 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 9.7 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Southern celestial hemisphere.

Discovery Facility: Multiple Observatories · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).