HD 24040 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 24040 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 24040, located approximately 152.1 light-years (46.62 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2006 by W. M. Keck Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 12.9 Earth radii (1.15 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 1589.142 Earth masses (5 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.08 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 9.55 g⊕ (93.65 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 124.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 24040, HD 24040 b completes one full revolution every 3668 Earth days (10.04Julian years) at a semi-major axis of 4.92 AU (corresponding to the middle-system regime between Mars at 1.52 AU and Jupiter at 5.20 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 14.6 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.04 (ranging from 4.7232 AU at periapsis to 5.1168 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
❄️ Thermal Regime (Cryogenic Zone): With an equilibrium temperature of 144 K (-129°C / -200°F) and an incident flux of 0.08 S⊕ (~106 W/m²), surface water and volatile species on HD 24040 b would remain locked in cryogenic ice phases unless warmed by subsurface tidal or radiogenic heating.
The host star HD 24040 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,802 K, a radius of 1.3 R☉, a mass of 1.11 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.718 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.68 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.19 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, HD 24040 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 7.515 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The HD 24040 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with HD 24040 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside HD 24040 c.
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: W. M. Keck Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 24040 |
| Spectral Type | G0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,802 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.3000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.718 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.190 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.680 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 7.515 · G: 7.335 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 4.920000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3668 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 14.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.04000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.0000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.08 g/cm³ (124.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.0779 S⊕ (~106 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 152.100 LY (46.622 pc) |