HD 6061 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 6061 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star HD 6061, located approximately 220.5 light-years (67.62 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2023 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0488% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.428 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 10 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.85 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.7 g⊕ (16.67 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 22.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 6061, HD 6061 b completes one full revolution every 5.255 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.06 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 124.2 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 1075 K (+802°C / +1476°F) and receiving 339.10 S⊕ (~461,515 W/m²), HD 6061 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HD 6061 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,934 K, a radius of 1.0072 R☉, a mass of 1.0269 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.129 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.4 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.05 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, HD 6061 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 8.844 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Northern 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: Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 6061 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,934 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0072 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0269 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.129 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.050 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.400 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 8.844 · G: 8.699 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.060000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.255 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 124.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.85 g/cm³ (22.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 339.1000 S⊕ (~461,515 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 220.500 LY (67.620 pc) |