WASP-48 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-48 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-48, located approximately 1481.2 light-years (454.14 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2011 by SuperWASP using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.9519% across the stellar disk), this world measures 16.814 Earth radii (1.5 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 0.29 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.9 g⊕ (8.83 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 43.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-48, WASP-48 b completes one full revolution every 2.144 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.03444 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 174.8 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 2035 K (+1762°C / +3204°F) and receiving 3,410.26 S⊕ (~4,641,364 W/m²), WASP-48 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-48 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,920 K, a radius of 1.58 R☉, a mass of 0.88 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.751 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 7.9 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.12 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, WASP-48 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.647 (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-48 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,920 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.5800 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.751 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.120 dex |
| Stellar Age | 7.900 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.647 · G: 11.523 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.034440 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.144 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 174.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 80.0900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.29 g/cm³ (43.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 3410.2601 S⊕ (~4,641,364 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1481.200 LY (454.144 pc) |