K2-230 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-230 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star K2-230, located approximately 1763.8 light-years (540.77 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2018 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0167% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.96 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.5 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.3 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.17 g⊕ (11.47 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-230, K2-230 b completes one full revolution every 2.86 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0409 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 155.6 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s).
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1529 K (+1256°C / +2293°F) and receiving 1,241.53 S⊕ (~1,689,727 W/m²), K2-230 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-230 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,945 K, a radius of 1.39 R☉, a mass of 1.11 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.165 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.1 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, K2-230 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.789 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern 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 | K2-230 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,945 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.3900 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.165 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.100 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.789 · G: 12.575 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.040900 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.86 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 155.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.9899° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.3 g/cm³ (16.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1241.5334 S⊕ (~1,689,727 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1763.800 LY (540.773 pc) |