WASP-102 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-102 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-102, located approximately 1747.2 light-years (535.69 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2025 by SuperWASP using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.988% across the stellar disk), this world measures 14.908 Earth radii (1.33 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 197.689 Earth masses (0.62 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.33 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.89 g⊕ (8.73 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 40.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-102, WASP-102 b completes one full revolution every 2.71 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.041 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 164.6 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The orbit is modeled as circular (e = 0.00), maintaining a constant stellar distance throughout its year.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1671 K (+1398°C / +2548°F) and receiving 1,293.00 S⊕ (~1,759,773 W/m²), WASP-102 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-102 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,990 K, a radius of 1.375 R☉, a mass of 1.08 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.184 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.67 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.2 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, WASP-102 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.667 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) 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: SuperWASP · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | WASP-102 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,990 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.3750 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.184 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.200 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.670 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.667 · G: 12.562 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.041000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.71 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 164.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.0600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.33 g/cm³ (40.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1293.0000 S⊕ (~1,759,773 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1747.200 LY (535.689 pc) |