GJ 486 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
GJ 486 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star GJ 486, located approximately 26.3 light-years (8.07 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Calar Alto Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 1.289 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.77 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 7.13 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 1.67 g⊕ (16.38 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around GJ 486, GJ 486 b completes one full revolution every 1.467 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.01714 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 127.1 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.00086 (ranging from 0.0171 AU at periapsis to 0.0172 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 696 K (+423°C / +793°F) and receiving 39.20 S⊕ (~53,351 W/m²), GJ 486 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star GJ 486 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M3.5 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,317 K, a radius of 0.3243 R☉, a mass of 0.312 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.011 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.15 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, GJ 486 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.39 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern 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: Calar Alto Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | GJ 486 |
| Spectral Type | M3.5 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,317 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.3243 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.3120 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.011 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.150 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.390 · G: 10.094 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.017140 AU |
| Orbital Period | 1.467 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 127.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00086 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.3900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 7.13 g/cm³ (16.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 39.2000 S⊕ (~53,351 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 26.300 LY (8.074 pc) |