HD 167042 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 167042 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 167042, located approximately 162 light-years (49.66 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2007 by Lick 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 444.006 Earth masses (1.4 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.97 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 2.4 g⊕ (23.54 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 63.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 167042, HD 167042 b completes one full revolution every 417.67 Earth days (1.14Julian years) at a semi-major axis of 1.22 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 31.8 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.01 (ranging from 1.2078 AU at periapsis to 1.2322 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 462 K (+189°C / +372°F) and receiving 7.66 S⊕ (~10,424 W/m²), HD 167042 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HD 167042 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K1 IV with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,919 K, a radius of 4.63 R☉, a mass of 1.39 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 11.261 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.2 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.01 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, HD 167042 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 5.988 (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: Lick Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 167042 |
| Spectral Type | K1 IV |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,919 K |
| Stellar Radius | 4.6300 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.3900 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 11.261 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.010 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.200 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 5.988 · G: 5.724 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 1.220000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 417.67 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 31.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.01000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.97 g/cm³ (63.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 7.6592 S⊕ (~10,424 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 162.000 LY (49.663 pc) |