GJ 3293 e
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
GJ 3293 e is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star GJ 3293, located approximately 65.9 light-years (20.19 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2017 by La Silla Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 1.63 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.28 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.18 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.23 g⊕ (12.06 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around GJ 3293, GJ 3293 e completes one full revolution every 13.254 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.08208 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 67.4 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.21 carries the world between 0.0648 AU at periapsis and 0.0993 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 371 K (+98°C / +208°F) and receiving 3.34 S⊕ (~4,546 W/m²), GJ 3293 e orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star GJ 3293 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M2.5 with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,466 K, a radius of 0.404 R☉, a mass of 0.42 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.021 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, GJ 3293 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.945 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The GJ 3293 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 4 confirmed worlds, with GJ 3293 e sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside GJ 3293 b, GJ 3293 d, GJ 3293 c.
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: La Silla Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | GJ 3293 |
| Spectral Type | M2.5 |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,466 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.4040 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.4200 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.021 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.945 · G: 10.979 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 4 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.082080 AU |
| Orbital Period | 13.254 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 67.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.21000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.18 g/cm³ (15.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 3.3400 S⊕ (~4,546 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 65.900 LY (20.190 pc) |