HD 104067 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 104067 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 104067, located approximately 66.4 light-years (20.36 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2011 by La Silla Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 9.2 Earth radii (0.82 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 62.1 Earth masses (0.2 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.44 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.73 g⊕ (7.16 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 29.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 104067, HD 104067 b completes one full revolution every 55.851 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.2674 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 52.1 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.123 carries the world between 0.2345 AU at periapsis and 0.3003 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 408 K (+135°C / +275°F) and receiving 4.30 S⊕ (~5,848 W/m²), HD 104067 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HD 104067 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K2V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,952 K, a radius of 0.78 R☉, a mass of 0.82 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.328 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.33 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.11 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, HD 104067 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 7.92 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The HD 104067 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with HD 104067 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside HD 104067 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: La Silla Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 104067 |
| Spectral Type | K2V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,952 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7800 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8200 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.328 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.110 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.330 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 7.920 · G: 7.620 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.267400 AU |
| Orbital Period | 55.851 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 52.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.12300 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.44 g/cm³ (29.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 4.2965 S⊕ (~5,848 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 66.400 LY (20.363 pc) |