NGTS-26 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
NGTS-26 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star NGTS-26, located approximately 3567.1 light-years (1093.69 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2024 by Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.3841% across the stellar disk), this world measures 14.886 Earth radii (1.33 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 92.806 Earth masses (0.29 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.16 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.42 g⊕ (4.12 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 27.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around NGTS-26, NGTS-26 b completes one full revolution every 4.52 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.049 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 117.9 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 1331 K (+1058°C / +1936°F) and receiving 523.00 S⊕ (~711,803 W/m²), NGTS-26 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star NGTS-26 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,550 K, a radius of 1.16 R☉, a mass of 0.96 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.145 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 11.5 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.2 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, NGTS-26 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.009 (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-26 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,550 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.145 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.200 dex |
| Stellar Age | 11.500 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.009 · G: 14.726 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.049000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4.52 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 117.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.4300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.16 g/cm³ (27.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 523.0000 S⊕ (~711,803 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3567.100 LY (1093.690 pc) |