HD 96063 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HD 96063 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 96063, located approximately 456.8 light-years (140.07 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2011 by W. M. Keck Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 13.7 Earth radii (1.22 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 403.644 Earth masses (1.27 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.87 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 2.15 g⊕ (21.08 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 60.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HD 96063, HD 96063 b completes one full revolution every 362.5 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 1.11 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 33.3 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.17 carries the world between 0.9213 AU at periapsis and 1.2987 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 501 K (+228°C / +442°F) and receiving 10.31 S⊕ (~14,029 W/m²), HD 96063 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HD 96063 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G6 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,020 K, a radius of 4.75 R☉, a mass of 1.37 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 12.856 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 9 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.3 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, HD 96063 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 8.21 (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: W. M. Keck Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | HD 96063 |
| Spectral Type | G6 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,020 K |
| Stellar Radius | 4.7500 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.3700 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 12.856 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.300 dex |
| Stellar Age | 9.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 8.210 · G: 7.970 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 1.110000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 362.5 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 33.3 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.17000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.87 g/cm³ (60.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 10.3076 S⊕ (~14,029 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 456.800 LY (140.065 pc) |