HD 116029 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 116029 c 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 2016 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 13.7 Earth radii (1.22 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 403.644 Earth masses (1.27 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.87 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 2.15 g⊕ (21.08 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 60.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 116029, HD 116029 c completes one full revolution every 907 Earth days (2.48Julian years). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.038, the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 13.700 R⊕, HD 116029 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 116029 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K0 with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,951 K, a radius of 4.6 R☉, a mass of 1.33 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 11.407 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.7 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.18 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 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside HD 116029 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: 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) | 4,951 K |
| Stellar Radius | 4.6000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.3300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 11.407 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.180 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) | — |
| Orbital Period | 907 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.03800 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.87 g/cm³ (60.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 402.000 LY (123.245 pc) |