L 363-38 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
L 363-38 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star L 363-38, located approximately 33.4 light-years (10.23 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2023 by Paranal Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 2 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.67 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.22 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.17 g⊕ (11.47 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around L 363-38, L 363-38 b completes one full revolution every 8.781 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.048 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 59.5 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s).
ℹ️ Thermal & Atmospheric Regime: Current photometric and spectroscopic constraints for L 363-38 b place it outside the conservative habitable zone definition pending further atmospheric characterization.
The host star L 363-38 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,129 K, a radius of 0.274 R☉, a mass of 0.21 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.00646 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 8.07 Gyr. From Earth, L 363-38 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.027 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) 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: Paranal Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | L 363-38 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,129 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.2740 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.2100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.00646 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | 8.070 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.027 · G: 11.561 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.048000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 8.781 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 59.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.22 g/cm³ (17.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 5.6424 S⊕ (~7,679 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 33.400 LY (10.230 pc) |