HD 114386 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 114386 c is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 114386, located approximately 91.1 light-years (27.92 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2026 by Las Campanas Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 13.4 Earth radii (1.2 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 117.597 Earth masses (0.37 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.27 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.65 g⊕ (6.37 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 33.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 114386, HD 114386 c completes one full revolution every 444 Earth days (1.22Julian years) at a semi-major axis of 1.05 AU (comparable to the inner terrestrial zone between Venus, Earth at 1.00 AU, and Mars at 1.52 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 25.7 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.1 carries the world between 0.945 AU at periapsis and 1.155 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 13.400 R⊕, HD 114386 c exceeds the empirical ~1.8–2.2 R⊕ Fulton radius valley threshold, indicating a substantial hydrogen-helium or supercritical volatile envelope without a conventional solid terrestrial surface.
The host star HD 114386 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K3 VC with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,895 K, a radius of 0.76 R☉, a mass of 0.8 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.298 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.4 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.1 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, HD 114386 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 8.73 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The HD 114386 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with HD 114386 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside HD 114386 b.
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 114386 |
| Spectral Type | K3 VC |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,895 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.298 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.100 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.400 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 8.730 · G: 8.418 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 1.050000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 444 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 25.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.10000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.27 g/cm³ (33.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.2616 S⊕ (~356 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 91.100 LY (27.924 pc) |