K2-2016-BLG-0005L b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-2016-BLG-0005L b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star K2-2016-BLG-0005L, located approximately 16960.1 light-years (5200 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2023 by K2 using the Microlensing detection technique (detected via relativistic gravitational lensing of a background source star), this world measures 13.7 Earth radii (1.22 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 349.611 Earth masses (1.1 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.75 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.86 g⊕ (18.24 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 56.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-2016-BLG-0005L, K2-2016-BLG-0005L b completes one full revolution every 4700 Earth days (12.87Julian years) at a semi-major axis of 4.16 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 9.6 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s).
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 13.700 R⊕, K2-2016-BLG-0005L b exceeds the empirical ~1.8–2.2 R⊕ Fulton radius valley threshold, indicating a substantial hydrogen-helium or supercritical volatile envelope without a conventional solid terrestrial surface.
The host star K2-2016-BLG-0005L is classified as a stellar host with a mass of 0.584 M☉.
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: K2 · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | K2-2016-BLG-0005L |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | — |
| Stellar Radius | — |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5840 M☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | — |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 4.160000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4700 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 9.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.75 g/cm³ (56.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 16960.100 LY (5200.000 pc) |