GJ 411 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
GJ 411 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star GJ 411, located approximately 18.5 light-years (5.68 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2019 by Haute-Provence Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 1.45 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.69 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.87 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.28 g⊕ (12.55 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around GJ 411, GJ 411 b completes one full revolution every 12.939 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.07879 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 66.2 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.063 carries the world between 0.0738 AU at periapsis and 0.0838 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
ℹ️ Thermal & Atmospheric Regime: Current photometric and spectroscopic constraints for GJ 411 b place it outside the conservative habitable zone definition pending further atmospheric characterization.
The host star GJ 411 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M1.5 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,719 K, a radius of 0.3685 R☉, a mass of 0.3899 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.023 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 8.047 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.362 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, GJ 411 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 7.49 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The GJ 411 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with GJ 411 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside HD 95735 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: Haute-Provence Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | GJ 411 |
| Spectral Type | M1.5 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,719 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.3685 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.3899 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.023 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.362 dex |
| Stellar Age | 8.047 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 7.490 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.078790 AU |
| Orbital Period | 12.939 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 66.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.06300 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.87 g/cm³ (15.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 3.1300 S⊕ (~4,260 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 18.500 LY (5.676 pc) |