NGTS-17 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
NGTS-17 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star NGTS-17, located approximately 3392.9 light-years (1040.28 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.9083% across the stellar disk), this world measures 13.899 Earth radii (1.24 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 242.821 Earth masses (0.76 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.5 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.26 g⊕ (12.36 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 46.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around NGTS-17, NGTS-17 b completes one full revolution every 3.243 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0391 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 131.2 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 1457 K (+1184°C / +2163°F) and receiving 1,160.00 S⊕ (~1,578,760 W/m²), NGTS-17 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star NGTS-17 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G4 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,650 K, a radius of 1.337 R☉, a mass of 1.025 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.634 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 9.22 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.15 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, NGTS-17 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.412 (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-17 |
| Spectral Type | G4 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,650 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.3370 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0250 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.634 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.150 dex |
| Stellar Age | 9.220 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.412 · G: 14.214 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.039100 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.243 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 131.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.5 g/cm³ (46.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1160.0000 S⊕ (~1,578,760 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3392.900 LY (1040.280 pc) |