HD 60779 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 60779 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star HD 60779, located approximately 115.6 light-years (35.45 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2026 by Roque de los Muchachos Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 5.79 Earth radii (0.52 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 28.3 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.8 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.84 g⊕ (8.24 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 24.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 60779, HD 60779 c completes one full revolution every 104.79 Earth days. With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.041, the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 5.790 R⊕, HD 60779 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 60779 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G1 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,081 K, a radius of 1.129 R☉, a mass of 1.05 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.564 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.12 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, HD 60779 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 7.163 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The HD 60779 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with HD 60779 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside HD 60779 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: Roque de los Muchachos Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 60779 |
| Spectral Type | G1 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,081 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1290 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.564 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.120 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 7.163 · G: 7.008 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 104.79 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.04100 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.8 g/cm³ (24.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 115.600 LY (35.445 pc) |