GJ 514 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
GJ 514 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star GJ 514, located approximately 24.8 light-years (7.62 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2022 by Multiple Observatories using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 2.13 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 5.2 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.97 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.15 g⊕ (11.28 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around GJ 514, GJ 514 b completes one full revolution every 140.43 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.422 AU (situated at an orbital separation between Mercury's 0.39 AU and Venus's 0.72 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 32.7 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The planet follows a highly eccentric trajectory (e = 0.45, swinging from 0.2321 AU at periapsis out to 0.6119 AU at apoapsis), pointing to past dynamical scattering or secular gravitational perturbations.
✓ Classified as a Temperate Habitable Zone Candidate.
With an estimated equilibrium temperature of 202 K (-71°C / -96°F) and an incident stellar irradiance of 0.28 S⊕ (~381 W/m²), GJ 514 b orbits within the empirical circumstellar habitable zone where a rocky surface under sufficient atmospheric pressure can maintain liquid surface water.
The host star GJ 514 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M0.5-1.0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,728 K, a radius of 0.5 R☉, a mass of 0.51 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.043 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.8 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.14 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, GJ 514 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 9.05 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) 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: Multiple Observatories · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | GJ 514 |
| Spectral Type | M0.5-1.0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,728 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.5000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.043 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.140 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.800 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 9.050 · G: 8.206 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.422000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 140.43 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 32.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.45000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.97 g/cm³ (17.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.2800 S⊕ (~381 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | ★ Temperate Zone |
| Celestial Distance | 24.800 LY (7.618 pc) |