Wolf 1061 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Wolf 1061 c is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Wolf 1061, located approximately 14 light-years (4.31 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2015 by La Silla Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 1.66 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.41 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.11 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.24 g⊕ (12.16 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Wolf 1061, Wolf 1061 c completes one full revolution every 17.872 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.089 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 54.2 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.11 carries the world between 0.0792 AU at periapsis and 0.0988 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
✓ Classified as a Temperate Habitable Zone Candidate.
With an estimated equilibrium temperature of 299 K (+26°C / +79°F) and an incident stellar irradiance of 1.30 S⊕ (~1,769 W/m²), Wolf 1061 c orbits within the empirical circumstellar habitable zone where a rocky surface under sufficient atmospheric pressure can maintain liquid surface water.
The host star Wolf 1061 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M3.5 with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,342 K, a radius of 0.307 R☉, a mass of 0.294 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.011 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.09 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Wolf 1061 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 10.1 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The Wolf 1061 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Wolf 1061 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Wolf 1061 b, Wolf 1061 d.
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: La Silla Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | Wolf 1061 |
| Spectral Type | M3.5 |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,342 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.3070 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.2940 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.011 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.090 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 10.100 · G: 8.794 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.089000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 17.872 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 54.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.11000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.11 g/cm³ (16 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1.3000 S⊕ (~1,769 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | ★ Temperate Zone |
| Celestial Distance | 14.000 LY (4.306 pc) |