K2-114 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-114 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star K2-114, located approximately 1551.7 light-years (475.76 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2017 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.3622% across the stellar disk), this world measures 10.592 Earth radii (0.94 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 638.835 Earth masses (2.01 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.96 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 5.69 g⊕ (55.8 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 86.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-114, K2-114 b completes one full revolution every 11.391 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0944 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 90.2 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.079 carries the world between 0.0869 AU at periapsis and 0.1019 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 701 K (+428°C / +802°F) and receiving 40.00 S⊕ (~54,440 W/m²), K2-114 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-114 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,899 K, a radius of 0.832 R☉, a mass of 0.863 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.358 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 7.6 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.42 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, K2-114 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.55 (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: K2 · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | K2-114 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,899 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8320 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8630 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.358 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.420 dex |
| Stellar Age | 7.600 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.550 · G: 14.275 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.094400 AU |
| Orbital Period | 11.391 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 90.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.07900 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.1600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.96 g/cm³ (86.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 40.0000 S⊕ (~54,440 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1551.700 LY (475.758 pc) |