HD 3167 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 3167 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star HD 3167, located approximately 154.2 light-years (47.29 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0284% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.601 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.844 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 6.51 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 1.89 g⊕ (18.53 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 3167, HD 3167 b completes one full revolution every 0.96 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.01814 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 205.6 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The orbit is modeled as circular (e = 0.00), maintaining a constant stellar distance throughout its year.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1781 K (+1508°C / +2746°F) and receiving 1,650.00 S⊕ (~2,245,650 W/m²), HD 3167 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HD 3167 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,338 K, a radius of 0.871 R☉, a mass of 0.864 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.553 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 8.4 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.037 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, HD 3167 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 8.97 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The HD 3167 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 4 confirmed worlds, with HD 3167 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside HD 3167 d, HD 3167 c, HD 3167 e.
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: K2 · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 3167 |
| Spectral Type | K0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,338 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8710 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8640 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.553 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.037 dex |
| Stellar Age | 8.400 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 8.970 · G: 8.762 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 4 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.018140 AU |
| Orbital Period | 0.96 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 205.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.8000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 6.51 g/cm³ (19.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1650.0000 S⊕ (~2,245,650 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 154.200 LY (47.290 pc) |