EPIC 205950854 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
EPIC 205950854 c is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star K2-168, located approximately 795.6 light-years (243.94 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2019 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0209% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.31 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.27 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.57 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.32 g⊕ (12.94 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 14.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-168, EPIC 205950854 c completes one full revolution every 8.051 Earth days.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 961 K (+688°C / +1270°F), EPIC 205950854 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-168 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,503 K, a radius of 0.83 R☉, a mass of 0.877 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.567 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.13 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, K2-168 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.365 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The K2-168 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with EPIC 205950854 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside K2-168 b.
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: K2 · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | K2-168 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,503 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8300 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8770 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.567 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.130 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.365 · G: 12.098 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 8.051 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.8100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.57 g/cm³ (14.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 795.600 LY (243.935 pc) |