WASP-14 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-14 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-14, located approximately 528.4 light-years (162 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2008 by SuperWASP using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.026% across the stellar disk), this world measures 15.468 Earth radii (1.38 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 2809.617 Earth masses (8.84 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.19 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 11.74 g⊕ (115.13 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 150.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-14, WASP-14 b completes one full revolution every 2.244 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.037 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 179.4 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.09 carries the world between 0.0337 AU at periapsis and 0.0403 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1872 K (+1599°C / +2910°F) and receiving 1,356.33 S⊕ (~1,845,965 W/m²), WASP-14 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-14 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,475 K, a radius of 1.4 R☉, a mass of 1.62 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 3.091 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.75 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, WASP-14 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 9.745 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) 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-14 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,475 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.4000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.6200 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 3.091 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.000 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.750 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 9.745 · G: 9.646 |
| System Architecture | 3 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.037000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.244 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 179.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.09000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 84.3200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.19 g/cm³ (150.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1356.3300 S⊕ (~1,845,965 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 528.400 LY (161.997 pc) |