KELT-16 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
KELT-16 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star KELT-16, located approximately 1450 light-years (444.59 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2017 by KELT using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.1432% across the stellar disk), this world measures 15.861 Earth radii (1.42 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 874.033 Earth masses (2.75 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.21 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 3.47 g⊕ (34.03 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 83 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around KELT-16, KELT-16 b completes one full revolution every 0.969 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.02044 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 229.5 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The orbit is modeled as circular (e = 0.00), maintaining a constant stellar distance throughout its year.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 2453 K (+2180°C / +3956°F) and receiving 6,992.03 S⊕ (~9,516,157 W/m²), KELT-16 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star KELT-16 is classified as a warm F-type star of spectral type F7 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,236 K, a radius of 1.36 R☉, a mass of 1.211 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.51 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.1 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.002 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, KELT-16 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.717 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) 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: KELT · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | KELT-16 |
| Spectral Type | F7 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,236 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.3600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.2110 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.51 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.002 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.100 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.717 · G: 11.796 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.020440 AU |
| Orbital Period | 0.969 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 229.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 84.4000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.21 g/cm³ (83 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 6992.0328 S⊕ (~9,516,157 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1450.000 LY (444.586 pc) |