HD 196067 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 196067 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star HD 196067, located approximately 130.2 light-years (39.94 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2025 by La Silla Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 3.21 Earth radii (0.29 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 10.4 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.73 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.01 g⊕ (9.9 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 20.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 196067, HD 196067 c completes one full revolution every 4.601 Earth days. Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.235 driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 3.210 R⊕, HD 196067 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 196067 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,072 K, a radius of 1.71 R☉, a mass of 1.16 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 3.566 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.2 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.213 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, HD 196067 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 6.51 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The HD 196067 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with HD 196067 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside HD 196067 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: La Silla Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 196067 |
| Spectral Type | G0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,072 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.7100 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 3.566 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.213 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.200 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 6.510 · G: 6.330 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 4.601 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.23500 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.73 g/cm³ (20.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 130.200 LY (39.935 pc) |