HD 100546 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 100546 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 100546, located approximately 357.7 light-years (109.68 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Paranal Observatory using the Imaging detection technique (resolved directly via high-contrast coronagraphic or interferometric imaging), this world measures 77.342 Earth radii (6.9 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 2701.541 Earth masses (8.5 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.03 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.45 g⊕ (4.41 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 66.1 km/s.
❄️ Thermal Regime (Cryogenic Zone): With an equilibrium temperature of 95 K (-178°C / -288°F) and an incident flux of 0.01 S⊕ (~15 W/m²), surface water and volatile species on HD 100546 b would remain locked in cryogenic ice phases unless warmed by subsurface tidal or radiogenic heating.
The host star HD 100546 is classified as a massive B-type star of spectral type B9 Vne with an effective photospheric temperature of 10,500 K, a radius of 1.8529 R☉, a mass of 2.4 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 37.441 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.006 Gyr. From Earth, HD 100546 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 6.69 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) 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 | HD 100546 |
| Spectral Type | B9 Vne |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 10,500 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.8529 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 2.4000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 37.441 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | 0.006 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 6.690 · G: 6.655 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 53.000000 AU |
| Orbital Period | — |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.03 g/cm³ (66.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.0113 S⊕ (~15 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 357.700 LY (109.677 pc) |