kap And b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
kap And b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star kap And, located approximately 163.1 light-years (50.02 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2012 by Subaru Telescope using the Imaging detection technique (resolved directly via high-contrast coronagraphic or interferometric imaging), this world measures 15.917 Earth radii (1.42 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 5498.431 Earth masses (17.3 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 7.52 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 21.7 g⊕ (212.8 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 207.9 km/s.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1791 K (+1518°C / +2764°F) and receiving 0.02 S⊕ (~28 W/m²), kap And b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star kap And is classified as a massive B-type star of spectral type B9 IVn with an effective photospheric temperature of 11,327 K, a radius of 2.109 R☉, a mass of 2.768 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 65.691 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.047 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, kap And shines at apparent V-band magnitude 4.138 (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: Subaru Telescope · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | kap And |
| Spectral Type | B9 IVn |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 11,327 K |
| Stellar Radius | 2.1090 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 2.7680 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 65.691 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.000 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.047 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 4.138 · G: 4.135 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 55.000000 AU |
| Orbital Period | — |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 7.52 g/cm³ (207.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.0207 S⊕ (~28 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 163.100 LY (50.018 pc) |