PSR B1620-26 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
PSR B1620-26 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star PSR B1620-26. First announced in 2003 by Hubble Space Telescope using the Pulsar Timing detection technique, this world measures 13.3 Earth radii (1.19 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 794.575 Earth masses (2.5 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.86 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 4.49 g⊕ (44.03 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 86.5 km/s.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 13.300 R⊕, PSR B1620-26 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 PSR B1620-26 is classified as a stellar host with a mass of 1.35 M☉.
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: Hubble Space Telescope · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | PSR B1620-26 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | — |
| Stellar Radius | — |
| Stellar Mass | 1.3500 M☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | — |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 23.000000 AU |
| Orbital Period | — |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.86 g/cm³ (86.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | — |