HD 108236 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 108236 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star HD 108236, located approximately 210.7 light-years (64.6 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2020 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0285% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.615 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.24 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.24 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.24 g⊕ (12.16 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 108236, HD 108236 b completes one full revolution every 3.796 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.04527 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 129.7 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.045 (ranging from 0.0432 AU at periapsis to 0.0473 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1099 K (+826°C / +1519°F) and receiving 312.18 S⊕ (~424,878 W/m²), HD 108236 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HD 108236 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G3 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,660 K, a radius of 0.877 R☉, a mass of 0.869 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.708 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.7 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.28 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, HD 108236 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 9.25 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The HD 108236 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 5 confirmed worlds, with HD 108236 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside HD 108236 c, TOI-1233.01, HD 108236 e, HD 108236 f.
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: Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 108236 |
| Spectral Type | G3 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,660 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8770 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8690 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.708 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.280 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.700 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 9.250 · G: 9.087 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 5 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.045270 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.796 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 129.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.04500 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.5900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.24 g/cm³ (15.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 312.1807 S⊕ (~424,878 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 210.700 LY (64.598 pc) |