WASP-187 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-187 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-187, located approximately 1211.4 light-years (371.41 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2020 by SuperWASP using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.3547% across the stellar disk), this world measures 18.383 Earth radii (1.64 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 254.264 Earth masses (0.8 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.23 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.75 g⊕ (7.35 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 41.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-187, WASP-187 b completes one full revolution every 5.148 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0653 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 138 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 1760 K (+1487°C / +2709°F) and receiving 1,594.76 S⊕ (~2,170,468 W/m²), WASP-187 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-187 is classified as a warm F-type star of spectral type F with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,150 K, a radius of 2.83 R☉, a mass of 1.54 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 10.279 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.55 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, WASP-187 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 10.295 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) 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-187 |
| Spectral Type | F |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,150 K |
| Stellar Radius | 2.8300 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.5400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 10.279 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.000 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.550 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 10.295 · G: 10.132 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.065300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.148 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 138 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.23 g/cm³ (41.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1594.7600 S⊕ (~2,170,468 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1211.400 LY (371.414 pc) |