WASP-132 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-132 c is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-132, located approximately 400.9 light-years (122.91 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2022 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0496% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.841 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 6.26 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.53 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.85 g⊕ (18.14 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 20.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-132, WASP-132 c completes one full revolution every 1.012 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.01833 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 197.1 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 1329 K (+1056°C / +1933°F) and receiving 791.00 S⊕ (~1,076,551 W/m²), WASP-132 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-132 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K4 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,686 K, a radius of 0.758 R☉, a mass of 0.789 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.249 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 7.2 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.15 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, WASP-132 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.938 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The WASP-132 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with WASP-132 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside WASP-132 b, WASP-132 d.
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: Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | WASP-132 |
| Spectral Type | K4 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,686 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7580 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7890 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.249 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.150 dex |
| Stellar Age | 7.200 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.938 · G: 11.754 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.018330 AU |
| Orbital Period | 1.012 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 197.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.8200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.53 g/cm³ (20.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 791.0000 S⊕ (~1,076,551 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 400.900 LY (122.910 pc) |