NGTS-10 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
NGTS-10 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star NGTS-10, located approximately 1059 light-years (324.7 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2020 by Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 3.3137% across the stellar disk), this world measures 13.899 Earth radii (1.24 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 687.148 Earth masses (2.16 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.41 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 3.56 g⊕ (34.91 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 78.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around NGTS-10, NGTS-10 b completes one full revolution every 0.767 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0143 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 202.9 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 1508 K (+1235°C / +2255°F) and receiving 3,716.18 S⊕ (~5,057,719 W/m²), NGTS-10 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star NGTS-10 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,567 K, a radius of 0.7 R☉, a mass of 0.696 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.191 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 10.4 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, NGTS-10 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.506 (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: Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | NGTS-10 |
| Spectral Type | K |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,567 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.6960 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.191 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | 10.400 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.506 · G: 14.260 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.014300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 0.767 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 202.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 79.4000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.41 g/cm³ (78.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 3716.1785 S⊕ (~5,057,719 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1059.000 LY (324.699 pc) |