WASP-34 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-34 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-34, located approximately 430.8 light-years (132.1 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2010 by SuperWASP using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.2752% across the stellar disk), this world measures 11.209 Earth radii (1 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 177.985 Earth masses (0.56 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.7 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.42 g⊕ (13.93 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 44.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-34, WASP-34 b completes one full revolution every 4.318 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0524 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 132 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.04 (ranging from 0.0503 AU at periapsis to 0.0545 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1250 K (+977°C / +1791°F) and receiving 229.96 S⊕ (~312,978 W/m²), WASP-34 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-34 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,700 K, a radius of 0.91 R☉, a mass of 0.96 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.784 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 7.8 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, WASP-34 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 10.285 (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-34 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,700 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9100 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.784 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | 7.800 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 10.285 · G: 10.205 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.052400 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4.318 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 132 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.04000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.2000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.7 g/cm³ (44.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 229.9620 S⊕ (~312,978 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 430.800 LY (132.096 pc) |