WASP-37 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-37 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-37, located approximately 1281.1 light-years (392.79 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2010 by SuperWASP using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.4124% across the stellar disk), this world measures 13.002 Earth radii (1.16 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 572.07 Earth masses (1.8 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.44 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 3.38 g⊕ (33.15 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 74.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-37, WASP-37 b completes one full revolution every 3.577 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0446 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 135.6 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 1233 K (+960°C / +1760°F) and receiving 545.33 S⊕ (~742,199 W/m²), WASP-37 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-37 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,800 K, a radius of 1.003 R☉, a mass of 0.925 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.021 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 11 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.4 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, WASP-37 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.815 (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-37 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,800 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0030 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9250 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.021 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.400 dex |
| Stellar Age | 11.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.815 · G: 12.542 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.044600 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.577 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 135.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.8200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.44 g/cm³ (74.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 545.3338 S⊕ (~742,199 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1281.100 LY (392.791 pc) |