HD 86950 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 86950 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 86950, located approximately 684.4 light-years (209.84 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Multiple Observatories using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 13 Earth radii (1.16 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 1144.188 Earth masses (3.6 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.87 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 6.77 g⊕ (66.39 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 104.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 86950, HD 86950 b completes one full revolution every 1270 Earth days (3.48Julian years) at a semi-major axis of 2.72 AU (corresponding to the middle-system regime between Mars at 1.52 AU and Jupiter at 5.20 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 23.3 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.17 carries the world between 2.2576 AU at periapsis and 3.1824 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 417 K (+144°C / +291°F) and receiving 4.91 S⊕ (~6,678 W/m²), HD 86950 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HD 86950 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K1 III with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,805 K, a radius of 8.8 R☉, a mass of 1.66 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 37.036 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.04 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, HD 86950 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 7.47 (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: Multiple Observatories · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 86950 |
| Spectral Type | K1 III |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,805 K |
| Stellar Radius | 8.8000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.6600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 37.036 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.040 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 7.470 · G: 7.180 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 2.720000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 1270 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 23.3 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.17000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.87 g/cm³ (104.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 4.9065 S⊕ (~6,678 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 684.400 LY (209.839 pc) |