EPIC 249893012 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
EPIC 249893012 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star EPIC 249893012, located approximately 1047.9 light-years (321.3 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2020 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0387% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.67 Earth radii (0.33 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 14.67 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.64 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.09 g⊕ (10.69 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 22.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around EPIC 249893012, EPIC 249893012 c completes one full revolution every 15.624 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.13 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 90.5 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.07 carries the world between 0.1209 AU at periapsis and 0.1391 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 990 K (+717°C / +1323°F) and receiving 160.00 S⊕ (~217,760 W/m²), EPIC 249893012 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star EPIC 249893012 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G8 IV/V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,430 K, a radius of 1.71 R☉, a mass of 1.05 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.281 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 9 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.2 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, EPIC 249893012 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.429 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The EPIC 249893012 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with EPIC 249893012 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside EPIC 249893012 b, EPIC 249893012 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: K2 · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | EPIC 249893012 |
| Spectral Type | G8 IV/V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,430 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.7100 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.281 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.200 dex |
| Stellar Age | 9.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.429 · G: 11.402 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.130000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 15.624 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 90.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.07000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.9400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.64 g/cm³ (22.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 160.0000 S⊕ (~217,760 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1047.900 LY (321.296 pc) |