WASP-16 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-16 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-16, located approximately 633.2 light-years (194.13 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2009 by SuperWASP using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.2094% across the stellar disk), this world measures 13.675 Earth radii (1.22 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 394.109 Earth masses (1.24 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.85 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 2.11 g⊕ (20.69 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 60.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-16, WASP-16 b completes one full revolution every 3.119 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0415 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 144.8 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 1389 K (+1116°C / +2041°F) and receiving 481.92 S⊕ (~655,889 W/m²), WASP-16 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-16 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,700 K, a radius of 1.14 R☉, a mass of 1.78 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.231 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 8.6 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.01 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, WASP-16 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.288 (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-16 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,700 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.7800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.231 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.010 dex |
| Stellar Age | 8.600 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.288 · G: 11.125 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.041500 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.119 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 144.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.2200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.85 g/cm³ (60.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 481.9170 S⊕ (~655,889 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 633.200 LY (194.134 pc) |