HD 192263 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 192263 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 192263, located approximately 64 light-years (19.64 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 1999 by La Silla Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 14.2 Earth radii (1.27 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 177.985 Earth masses (0.56 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.34 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.88 g⊕ (8.63 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 39.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 192263, HD 192263 b completes one full revolution every 24.356 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.15 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 67 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.05 carries the world between 0.1425 AU at periapsis and 0.1575 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 486 K (+213°C / +415°F) and receiving 15.06 S⊕ (~20,496 W/m²), HD 192263 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HD 192263 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K2 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,976 K, a radius of 0.74 R☉, a mass of 0.66 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.301 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.09 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, HD 192263 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 7.79 (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: La Silla Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 192263 |
| Spectral Type | K2 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,976 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.6600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.301 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.090 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 7.790 · G: 7.496 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.150000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 24.356 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 67 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.05000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.34 g/cm³ (39.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 15.0597 S⊕ (~20,496 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 64.000 LY (19.636 pc) |