HD 106906 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 106906 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 106906, located approximately 336 light-years (103.03 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2013 by Las Campanas Observatory using the Imaging detection technique (resolved directly via high-contrast coronagraphic or interferometric imaging), this world measures 12.4 Earth radii (1.11 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 3496 Earth masses (11 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 10.11 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 22.74 g⊕ (223 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 187.8 km/s.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1800 K (+1527°C / +2781°F), HD 106906 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HD 106906 is classified as a warm F-type star of spectral type F5 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,516 K, a radius of 2.1235 R☉, a mass of 1.5 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 7.293 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.013 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.04 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, HD 106906 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 7.8 (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: Las Campanas Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 106906 |
| Spectral Type | F5 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,516 K |
| Stellar Radius | 2.1235 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.5000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 7.293 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.040 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.013 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 7.800 · G: 7.686 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 650.000000 AU |
| Orbital Period | — |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 10.11 g/cm³ (187.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.0000 S⊕ |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 336.000 LY (103.029 pc) |