WASP-107 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-107 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-107, located approximately 211.2 light-years (64.74 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2017 by SuperWASP-South using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 2.1386% across the stellar disk), this world measures 10.48 Earth radii (0.93 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 33.022 Earth masses (0.1 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.16 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.3 g⊕ (2.94 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-107, WASP-107 b completes one full revolution every 5.721 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.055 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 104.6 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.052 carries the world between 0.0521 AU at periapsis and 0.0579 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 736 K (+463°C / +865°F) and receiving 51.00 S⊕ (~69,411 W/m²), WASP-107 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-107 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K6 with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,425 K, a radius of 0.657 R☉, a mass of 0.683 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.148 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.4 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, WASP-107 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.592 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The WASP-107 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with WASP-107 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside WASP-107 c.
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-South · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | WASP-107 |
| Spectral Type | K6 |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,425 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6570 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.6830 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.148 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.400 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.592 · G: 11.174 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.055000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.721 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 104.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.05200 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.5700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.16 g/cm³ (19.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 51.0000 S⊕ (~69,411 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 211.200 LY (64.741 pc) |