HD 141004 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 141004 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star HD 141004, located approximately 38.5 light-years (11.82 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Multiple Observatories using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 3.77 Earth radii (0.34 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 13.635 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.4 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.96 g⊕ (9.41 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 21.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 141004, HD 141004 b completes one full revolution every 15.508 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1238 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 86.8 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.16 carries the world between 0.104 AU at periapsis and 0.1436 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 951 K (+678°C / +1252°F) and receiving 144.73 S⊕ (~196,978 W/m²), HD 141004 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HD 141004 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G0Vvar with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,885 K, a radius of 1.3894 R☉, a mass of 1.0519 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.077 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.32 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.025 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, HD 141004 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 4.415 (visible to the unaided human eye under dark skies) in the Northern 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: Multiple Observatories · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 141004 |
| Spectral Type | G0Vvar |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,885 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.3894 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0519 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.077 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.025 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.320 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 4.415 · G: 4.280 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.123800 AU |
| Orbital Period | 15.508 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 86.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.16000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.4 g/cm³ (21.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 144.7300 S⊕ (~196,978 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 38.500 LY (11.815 pc) |