USco1556 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
USco1556 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star USco1556 A, located approximately 458.7 light-years (140.64 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2019 by Multiple Observatories 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 4767.45 Earth masses (15 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 14.13 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 31.51 g⊕ (309.01 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 220.2 km/s.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 2240 K (+1967°C / +3573°F), USco1556 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star USco1556 A is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M3.0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,410 K, a radius of 0.6681 R☉, a mass of 0.33 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.054 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.008 Gyr. From Earth, USco1556 A shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.36 (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: Multiple Observatories · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | USco1556 A |
| Spectral Type | M3.0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,410 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6681 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.3300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.054 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | 0.008 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.360 · G: 14.310 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 3500.000000 AU |
| Orbital Period | — |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 14.13 g/cm³ (220.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.0000 S⊕ |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 458.700 LY (140.635 pc) |