WASP-64 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
WASP-64 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star WASP-64, located approximately 1206.5 light-years (369.93 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2012 by SuperWASP using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.5241% across the stellar disk), this world measures 14.247 Earth radii (1.27 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 403.945 Earth masses (1.27 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.77 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.99 g⊕ (19.52 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 59.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around WASP-64, WASP-64 b completes one full revolution every 1.573 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.02648 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 183.1 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 1689 K (+1416°C / +2581°F) and receiving 1,563.64 S⊕ (~2,128,111 W/m²), WASP-64 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star WASP-64 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G7 with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,400 K, a radius of 1.058 R☉, a mass of 1.004 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.854 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.2 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.08 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, WASP-64 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.704 (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-64 |
| Spectral Type | G7 |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,400 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0580 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0040 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.854 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.080 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.200 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.704 · G: 12.526 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.026480 AU |
| Orbital Period | 1.573 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 183.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.5700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.77 g/cm³ (59.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1563.6374 S⊕ (~2,128,111 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1206.500 LY (369.926 pc) |