WASP-127 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-127 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-127, located approximately 520.2 light-years (159.51 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by SuperWASP using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.0215% across the stellar disk), this world measures 14.695 Earth radii (1.31 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 52.347 Earth masses (0.16 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.09 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.24 g⊕ (2.35 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 21.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-127, WASP-127 b completes one full revolution every 4.178 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0484 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 126 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 1400 K (+1127°C / +2061°F) and receiving 703.97 S⊕ (~958,105 W/m²), WASP-127 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-127 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,620 K, a radius of 1.333 R☉, a mass of 0.95 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.59 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 11.41 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.193 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, WASP-127 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 10.148 (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-127 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,620 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.3330 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.59 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.193 dex |
| Stellar Age | 11.410 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 10.148 · G: 10.054 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.048400 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4.178 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 126 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.8400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.09 g/cm³ (21.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 703.9710 S⊕ (~958,105 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 520.200 LY (159.507 pc) |