MOA-2011-BLG-291L b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
MOA-2011-BLG-291L b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star MOA-2011-BLG-291L, located approximately 14350.9 light-years (4400 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2018 by MOA using the Microlensing detection technique (detected via relativistic gravitational lensing of a background source star), this world measures 4.43 Earth radii (0.4 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 18 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.14 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.92 g⊕ (9.02 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 22.5 km/s.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 4.430 R⊕, MOA-2011-BLG-291L 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 MOA-2011-BLG-291L is classified as a stellar host with a mass of 0.15 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: MOA · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | MOA-2011-BLG-291L |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | — |
| Stellar Radius | — |
| Stellar Mass | 0.1500 M☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | — |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.690000 AU |
| Orbital Period | — |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.14 g/cm³ (22.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 14350.900 LY (4400.000 pc) |