K2-141 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-141 c is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star K2-141, located approximately 201.8 light-years (61.87 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2018 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.8881% across the stellar disk), this world measures 7 Earth radii (0.62 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 8 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.13 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.16 g⊕ (1.57 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 12 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-141, K2-141 c completes one full revolution every 7.749 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0683 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 95.9 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.092 carries the world between 0.062 AU at periapsis and 0.0746 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 695 K (+422°C / +792°F) and receiving 39.10 S⊕ (~53,215 W/m²), K2-141 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-141 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K7 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,570 K, a radius of 0.681 R☉, a mass of 0.708 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.181 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.3 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, K2-141 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.454 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The K2-141 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with K2-141 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside K2-141 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 | K2-141 |
| Spectral Type | K7 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,570 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6810 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7080 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.181 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.000 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.300 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.454 · G: 10.722 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.068300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 7.749 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 95.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.09200 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.2000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.13 g/cm³ (12 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 39.1000 S⊕ (~53,215 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 201.800 LY (61.874 pc) |