GJ 3512 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
GJ 3512 c is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star GJ 3512, located approximately 30.9 light-years (9.49 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2020 by Multiple Observatories using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 14.3 Earth radii (1.28 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 143.976 Earth masses (0.45 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.27 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.7 g⊕ (6.86 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 35.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around GJ 3512, GJ 3512 c completes one full revolution every 2354 Earth days (6.44Julian years) at a semi-major axis of 1.731 AU (corresponding to the middle-system regime between Mars at 1.52 AU and Jupiter at 5.20 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 8 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.089 carries the world between 1.5769 AU at periapsis and 1.8851 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
❄️ Thermal Regime (Cryogenic Zone): With an equilibrium temperature of 43 K (-230°C / -382°F) and an incident flux of 0.00 S⊕ (~1 W/m²), surface water and volatile species on GJ 3512 c would remain locked in cryogenic ice phases unless warmed by subsurface tidal or radiogenic heating.
The host star GJ 3512 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M5.5 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,141 K, a radius of 0.139 R☉, a mass of 0.123 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.00169 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.5 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.07 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, GJ 3512 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.18 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The GJ 3512 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with GJ 3512 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside GJ 3512 b.
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: Multiple Observatories · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | GJ 3512 |
| Spectral Type | M5.5 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,141 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.1390 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.1230 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.00169 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.070 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.500 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.180 · G: 13.112 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 1.731000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2354 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.08900 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.27 g/cm³ (35.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.0005 S⊕ (~1 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 30.900 LY (9.486 pc) |