PDS 70 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
PDS 70 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star PDS 70, located approximately 368.8 light-years (113.06 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2018 by Paranal Observatory using the Imaging detection technique (resolved directly via high-contrast coronagraphic or interferometric imaging), this world measures 21.97 Earth radii (1.96 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 1017.051 Earth masses (3.2 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.53 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 2.11 g⊕ (20.69 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 76.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around PDS 70, PDS 70 b completes one full revolution every 43500 Earth days (119.1Julian years) at a semi-major axis of 20.8 AU (a wide outer-system orbit beyond Jupiter's 5.20 AU distance in our Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 5.2 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.17 carries the world between 17.264 AU at periapsis and 24.336 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1392 K (+1119°C / +2046°F) and receiving 0.00 S⊕ (~1 W/m²), PDS 70 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star PDS 70 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K7 with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,109 K, a radius of 1.26 R☉, a mass of 0.982 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.406 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.008 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.11 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, PDS 70 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.032 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The PDS 70 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with PDS 70 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside PDS 70 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: Paranal Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | PDS 70 |
| Spectral Type | K7 |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,109 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.2600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9820 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.406 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.110 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.008 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.032 · G: 11.585 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 20.800000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 43500 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 5.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.17000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 131.0000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.53 g/cm³ (76.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.0008 S⊕ (~1 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 368.800 LY (113.064 pc) |