K2-231 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-231 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star K2-231, located approximately 1047.7 light-years (321.22 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2018 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0582% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.5 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 6.8 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.4 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.09 g⊕ (10.69 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 18.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-231, K2-231 b completes one full revolution every 13.842 Earth days.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 2.500 R⊕, K2-231 b exceeds the empirical ~1.8–2.2 R⊕ Fulton radius valley threshold, indicating a substantial hydrogen-helium or supercritical volatile envelope without a conventional solid terrestrial surface.
The host star K2-231 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,695 K, a radius of 0.95 R☉, a mass of 1.01 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.852 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.14 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, K2-231 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.768 (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 | K2-231 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,695 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9500 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.852 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.140 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.768 · G: 12.559 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 13.842 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.6000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.4 g/cm³ (18.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1047.700 LY (321.215 pc) |