MOA-2016-BLG-526L b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
MOA-2016-BLG-526L b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star MOA-2016-BLG-526L, located approximately 22602.6 light-years (6930 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2024 by MOA using the Microlensing detection technique (detected via relativistic gravitational lensing of a background source star), this world measures 3.97 Earth radii (0.35 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 14.938 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.32 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.95 g⊕ (9.32 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 21.7 km/s.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 3.970 R⊕, MOA-2016-BLG-526L 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-2016-BLG-526L is classified as a stellar host with a mass of 0.37 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-2016-BLG-526L |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | — |
| Stellar Radius | — |
| Stellar Mass | 0.3700 M☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | — |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 2.070000 AU |
| Orbital Period | — |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.32 g/cm³ (21.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 22602.600 LY (6930.000 pc) |