USco CTIO 108 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
USco CTIO 108 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star USco CTIO 108, located approximately 469.7 light-years (144.02 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2008 by Teide Observatory using the Imaging detection technique (resolved directly via high-contrast coronagraphic or interferometric imaging), this world measures 12.3 Earth radii (1.1 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 4449.62 Earth masses (14 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 13.18 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 29.41 g⊕ (288.41 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 212.8 km/s.
❄️ Thermal Regime (Cryogenic Zone): With an equilibrium temperature of 3 K (-270°C / -454°F), surface water and volatile species on USco CTIO 108 b would remain locked in cryogenic ice phases unless warmed by subsurface tidal or radiogenic heating.
The host star USco CTIO 108 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M7 with an effective photospheric temperature of 2,700 K, a radius of 0.3454 R☉, a mass of 0.06 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.00569 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.003 Gyr. From Earth, USco CTIO 108 shines at apparent Gaia G-band magnitude 17.423 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern 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: Teide Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | USco CTIO 108 |
| Spectral Type | M7 |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 2,700 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.3454 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.0600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.00569 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | 0.003 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | · G: 17.423 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 670.000000 AU |
| Orbital Period | — |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 13.18 g/cm³ (212.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.0000 S⊕ |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 469.700 LY (144.019 pc) |