NY Vir b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
NY Vir b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star NY Vir, located approximately 1774.4 light-years (544.02 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2011 by Multiple Observatories using the Eclipse Timing Variations detection technique, this world measures 13.3 Earth radii (1.19 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 730.978 Earth masses (2.3 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.71 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 4.13 g⊕ (40.5 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 82.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around NY Vir, NY Vir b completes one full revolution every 3160 Earth days (8.65Julian years) at a semi-major axis of 3.3 AU (corresponding to the middle-system regime between Mars at 1.52 AU and Jupiter at 5.20 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 11.4 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.15 carries the world between 2.805 AU at periapsis and 3.795 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 13.300 R⊕, NY Vir 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 NY Vir is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 32,780 K, a radius of 0.151 R☉, a mass of 0.459 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 23.62 L☉. From Earth, NY Vir shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.496 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The NY Vir system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with NY Vir b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside NY Vir c.
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: Multiple Observatories · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | NY Vir |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 32,780 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.1510 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.4590 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 23.62 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.496 · G: 13.394 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 3.300000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3160 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 11.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.15000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.71 g/cm³ (82.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 2.1780 S⊕ (~2,964 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1774.400 LY (544.024 pc) |