WASP-3 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-3 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-3, located approximately 753.9 light-years (231.16 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2007 by SuperWASP using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.0269% across the stellar disk), this world measures 15.917 Earth radii (1.42 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 772.327 Earth masses (2.43 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.06 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 3.05 g⊕ (29.91 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 77.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-3, WASP-3 b completes one full revolution every 1.847 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0315 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 185.6 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 2020 K (+1747°C / +3177°F) and receiving 1,845.30 S⊕ (~2,511,453 W/m²), WASP-3 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-3 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,400 K, a radius of 1.44 R☉, a mass of 1.62 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 3.121 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.1 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, WASP-3 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 10.632 (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-3 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,400 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.4400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.6200 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 3.121 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.000 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.100 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 10.632 · G: 10.453 |
| System Architecture | 3 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.031500 AU |
| Orbital Period | 1.847 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 185.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.0600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.06 g/cm³ (77.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1845.3000 S⊕ (~2,511,453 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 753.900 LY (231.161 pc) |