K2-168 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-168 b 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 2018 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0422% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.86 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.12 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.53 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.19 g⊕ (11.67 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-168, K2-168 b completes one full revolution every 15.852 Earth days.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 766 K (+493°C / +919°F), K2-168 b 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 K2-168 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside EPIC 205950854 c.
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 | 15.852 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.4000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.53 g/cm³ (16.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 795.600 LY (243.935 pc) |