mu Leo b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
mu Leo b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star mu Leo, located approximately 106.4 light-years (32.61 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Bohyunsan Optical Astronomical Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 13.3 Earth radii (1.19 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 762.8 Earth masses (2.4 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.79 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 4.31 g⊕ (42.27 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 84.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around mu Leo, mu Leo b completes one full revolution every 357.8 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 1.1 AU (comparable to the inner terrestrial zone between Venus, Earth at 1.00 AU, and Mars at 1.52 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 33.4 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.09 carries the world between 1.001 AU at periapsis and 1.199 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 704 K (+431°C / +808°F) and receiving 51.79 S⊕ (~70,481 W/m²), mu Leo b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star mu Leo is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K2 III with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,538 K, a radius of 11.4 R☉, a mass of 1.5 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 49.449 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.35 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.36 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, mu Leo shines at apparent V-band magnitude 3.866 (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: Bohyunsan Optical Astronomical Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | mu Leo |
| Spectral Type | K2 III |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,538 K |
| Stellar Radius | 11.4000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.5000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 49.449 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.360 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.350 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 3.866 · G: 3.528 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 1.100000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 357.8 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 33.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.09000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.79 g/cm³ (84.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 51.7863 S⊕ (~70,481 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 106.400 LY (32.608 pc) |