WASP-116 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-116 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-116, located approximately 1824 light-years (559.24 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2025 by SuperWASP using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.773% across the stellar disk), this world measures 13.675 Earth radii (1.22 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 203.41 Earth masses (0.64 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.44 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.09 g⊕ (10.69 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 43.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-116, WASP-116 b completes one full revolution every 6.613 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.065 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 106.9 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 1414 K (+1141°C / +2086°F) and receiving 663.00 S⊕ (~902,343 W/m²), WASP-116 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-116 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,250 K, a radius of 1.426 R☉, a mass of 1.25 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.784 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.7 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, WASP-116 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.517 (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: SuperWASP · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | WASP-116 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,250 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.4260 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.2500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.784 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.000 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.700 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.517 · G: 12.258 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.065000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 6.613 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 106.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.5700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.44 g/cm³ (43.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 663.0000 S⊕ (~902,343 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1824.000 LY (559.243 pc) |