TOI-6038 A b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-6038 A b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-6038 A, located approximately 584.3 light-years (179.15 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2025 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1272% across the stellar disk), this world measures 6.41 Earth radii (0.57 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 78.5 Earth masses (0.25 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.64 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.91 g⊕ (18.73 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 39.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-6038 A, TOI-6038 A b completes one full revolution every 5.827 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.069 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 128.8 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s).
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1439 K (+1166°C / +2131°F) and receiving 716.00 S⊕ (~974,476 W/m²), TOI-6038 A b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-6038 A is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,110 K, a radius of 1.648 R☉, a mass of 1.291 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 3.396 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.65 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.124 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-6038 A shines at apparent V-band magnitude 9.913 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Northern 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: Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | TOI-6038 A |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,110 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.6480 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.2910 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 3.396 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.124 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.650 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 9.913 · G: 9.730 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.069000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.827 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 128.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.9600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.64 g/cm³ (39.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 716.0000 S⊕ (~974,476 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 584.300 LY (179.147 pc) |