HIP 63242 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
HIP 63242 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star HIP 63242, located approximately 510.3 light-years (156.46 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2013 by Multiple Observatories using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 12.5 Earth radii (1.12 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 2917.56 Earth masses (9.18 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 8.24 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 18.67 g⊕ (183.09 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 170.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around HIP 63242, HIP 63242 b completes one full revolution every 124.6 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.565 AU (situated at an orbital separation between Mercury's 0.39 AU and Venus's 0.72 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 49.3 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.23 carries the world between 0.4351 AU at periapsis and 0.695 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 993 K (+720°C / +1328°F) and receiving 133.63 S⊕ (~181,870 W/m²), HIP 63242 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star HIP 63242 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G8 with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,830 K, a radius of 10.2757 R☉, a mass of 1.54 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 51.559 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.31 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, HIP 63242 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 6.86 (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 | HIP 63242 |
| Spectral Type | G8 |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,830 K |
| Stellar Radius | 10.2757 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.5400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 51.559 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.310 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 6.860 · G: 6.565 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.565000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 124.6 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 49.3 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.23000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 8.24 g/cm³ (170.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 133.6297 S⊕ (~181,870 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 510.300 LY (156.456 pc) |