WASP-32 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-32 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-32, located approximately 900.2 light-years (275.99 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2010 by SuperWASP using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.0784% across the stellar disk), this world measures 10.761 Earth radii (0.96 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 835.893 Earth masses (2.63 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.7 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 7.22 g⊕ (70.8 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 98.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-32, WASP-32 b completes one full revolution every 2.719 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0394 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 157.7 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 1388 K (+1115°C / +2039°F) and receiving 616.33 S⊕ (~838,825 W/m²), WASP-32 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-32 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,140 K, a radius of 0.95 R☉, a mass of 0.72 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.151 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.22 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.13 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, WASP-32 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.257 (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-32 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,140 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9500 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7200 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.151 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.130 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.220 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.257 · G: 11.409 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.039400 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.719 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 157.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.1000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.7 g/cm³ (98.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 616.3300 S⊕ (~838,825 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 900.200 LY (275.994 pc) |