HD 66141 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 66141 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 66141, located approximately 222.3 light-years (68.15 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2012 by Bohyunsan Optical Astronomical Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 12.8 Earth radii (1.14 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 1906.9 Earth masses (6 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.01 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 11.64 g⊕ (114.15 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 136.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 66141, HD 66141 b completes one full revolution every 480.5 Earth days (1.32Julian years) at a semi-major axis of 1.2 AU (comparable to the inner terrestrial zone between Venus, Earth at 1.00 AU, and Mars at 1.52 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 27.2 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.07 carries the world between 1.116 AU at periapsis and 1.284 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 880 K (+607°C / +1125°F) and receiving 120.68 S⊕ (~164,246 W/m²), HD 66141 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HD 66141 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K2 III with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,323 K, a radius of 21.4 R☉, a mass of 1.1 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 143.502 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.84 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.323 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, HD 66141 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 4.378 (visible to the unaided human eye under dark skies) 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: Bohyunsan Optical Astronomical Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 66141 |
| Spectral Type | K2 III |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,323 K |
| Stellar Radius | 21.4000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 143.502 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.323 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.840 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 4.378 · G: 3.979 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 1.200000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 480.5 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 27.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.07000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.01 g/cm³ (136.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 120.6806 S⊕ (~164,246 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 222.300 LY (68.151 pc) |