GQ Lup b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
GQ Lup b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star GQ Lup, located approximately 493 light-years (151.17 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2004 by Paranal Observatory using the Imaging detection technique (resolved directly via high-contrast coronagraphic or interferometric imaging), this world measures 33.6 Earth radii (3 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 6356 Earth masses (20 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.92 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 5.63 g⊕ (55.21 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 153.8 km/s.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 2650 K (+2377°C / +4311°F) and receiving 0.00 S⊕ (~0 W/m²), GQ Lup b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star GQ Lup is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K7e V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,360 K, a radius of 1.9415 R☉, a mass of 0.7 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.222 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.001 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.35 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, GQ Lup shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.593 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern 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: Paranal Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | GQ Lup |
| Spectral Type | K7e V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,360 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.9415 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.222 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.350 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.001 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.593 · G: 11.261 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 100.000000 AU |
| Orbital Period | — |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.92 g/cm³ (153.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.0001 S⊕ (~0 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 493.000 LY (151.169 pc) |