Wolf 327 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Wolf 327 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Wolf 327, located approximately 93.1 light-years (28.53 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2024 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0784% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.24 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.53 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 7.32 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 1.65 g⊕ (16.18 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Wolf 327, Wolf 327 b completes one full revolution every 0.573 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.01 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 189.7 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 996 K (+723°C / +1333°F) and receiving 233.90 S⊕ (~318,338 W/m²), Wolf 327 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Wolf 327 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M2.5 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,542 K, a radius of 0.406 R☉, a mass of 0.405 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.023 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.1 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.17 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Wolf 327 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.018 (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: Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | Wolf 327 |
| Spectral Type | M2.5 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,542 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.4060 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.4050 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.023 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.170 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.100 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.018 · G: 11.952 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.010000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 0.573 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 189.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 84.8900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 7.32 g/cm³ (16 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 233.9000 S⊕ (~318,338 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 93.100 LY (28.532 pc) |