HD 169142 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 169142 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 169142, located approximately 370.5 light-years (113.6 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2023 by Paranal Observatory using the Imaging detection technique (resolved directly via high-contrast coronagraphic or interferometric imaging), this world measures 13.1 Earth radii (1.17 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 953.485 Earth masses (3 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.34 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 5.56 g⊕ (54.52 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 95.4 km/s.
❄️ Thermal Regime (Cryogenic Zone): With an equilibrium temperature of 71 K (-202°C / -332°F) and an incident flux of 0.00 S⊕ (~6 W/m²), surface water and volatile species on HD 169142 b would remain locked in cryogenic ice phases unless warmed by subsurface tidal or radiogenic heating.
The host star HD 169142 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 7,246 K, a radius of 1.537 R☉, a mass of 1.85 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 5.843 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.006 Gyr. From Earth, HD 169142 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 8.156 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Southern 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: Paranal Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 169142 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 7,246 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.5370 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.8500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 5.843 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | 0.006 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 8.156 · G: 8.054 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 37.200000 AU |
| Orbital Period | — |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 13.0000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.34 g/cm³ (95.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.0042 S⊕ (~6 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 370.500 LY (113.600 pc) |