PDS 70 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
PDS 70 c 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 2019 by European Southern Observatory using the Imaging detection technique (resolved directly via high-contrast coronagraphic or interferometric imaging), this world measures 22.194 Earth radii (1.98 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 2383.713 Earth masses (7.5 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.2 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 4.84 g⊕ (47.46 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 115.9 km/s.
With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.037 (ranging from 33.0309 AU at periapsis to 35.5691 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1054 K (+781°C / +1438°F) and receiving 0.00 S⊕ (~0 W/m²), PDS 70 c 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 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside PDS 70 b.
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: European Southern 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) | 34.300000 AU |
| Orbital Period | — |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.03700 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 130.5000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.2 g/cm³ (115.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.0003 S⊕ (~0 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 368.800 LY (113.064 pc) |