HD 64114 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 64114 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star HD 64114, located approximately 102.8 light-years (31.53 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2019 by Las Campanas Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 4.41 Earth radii (0.39 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 17.8 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.14 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.92 g⊕ (9.02 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 22.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 64114, HD 64114 b completes one full revolution every 45.791 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.246 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 58.4 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.12 carries the world between 0.2165 AU at periapsis and 0.2755 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 519 K (+246°C / +475°F) and receiving 12.04 S⊕ (~16,392 W/m²), HD 64114 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HD 64114 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G7 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,676 K, a radius of 0.8829 R☉, a mass of 0.95 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.726 L☉. From Earth, HD 64114 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 7.71 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Southern 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: Las Campanas Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 64114 |
| Spectral Type | G7 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,676 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8829 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.726 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 7.710 · G: 7.526 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.246000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 45.791 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 58.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.12000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.14 g/cm³ (22.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 12.0441 S⊕ (~16,392 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 102.800 LY (31.526 pc) |