HD 116029 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 116029 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 116029, located approximately 402 light-years (123.25 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2011 by W. M. Keck Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 13.6 Earth radii (1.21 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 444.962 Earth masses (1.4 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.98 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 2.41 g⊕ (23.63 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 64 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 116029, HD 116029 b completes one full revolution every 670 Earth days (1.83Julian years) at a semi-major axis of 1.65 AU (corresponding to the middle-system regime between Mars at 1.52 AU and Jupiter at 5.20 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 26.8 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The orbit is modeled as circular (e = 0.00), maintaining a constant stellar distance throughout its year.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 400 K (+127°C / +261°F) and receiving 4.15 S⊕ (~5,649 W/m²), HD 116029 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HD 116029 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K0 with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,819 K, a radius of 4.89 R☉, a mass of 0.83 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 11.57 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.7 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.09 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, HD 116029 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 7.88 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The HD 116029 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with HD 116029 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside HD 116029 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: W. M. Keck Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 116029 |
| Spectral Type | K0 |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,819 K |
| Stellar Radius | 4.8900 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 11.57 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.090 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.700 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 7.880 · G: 7.609 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 1.650000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 670 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 26.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.98 g/cm³ (64 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 4.1506 S⊕ (~5,649 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 402.000 LY (123.245 pc) |