WASP-49 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-49 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-49, located approximately 634.5 light-years (194.55 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2012 by SuperWASP using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.3829% across the stellar disk), this world measures 12.442 Earth radii (1.11 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 117.597 Earth masses (0.37 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.34 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.76 g⊕ (7.45 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 34.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-49, WASP-49 b completes one full revolution every 2.782 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0379 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 148.2 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 1400 K (+1127°C / +2061°F) and receiving 615.47 S⊕ (~837,656 W/m²), WASP-49 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-49 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G6 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,600 K, a radius of 0.97 R☉, a mass of 0.92 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.83 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 11.9 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.23 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, WASP-49 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.352 (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-49 |
| Spectral Type | G6 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,600 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9700 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9200 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.83 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.230 dex |
| Stellar Age | 11.900 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.352 · G: 11.291 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.037900 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.782 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 148.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 84.8900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.34 g/cm³ (34.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 615.4709 S⊕ (~837,656 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 634.500 LY (194.553 pc) |