K2-252 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-252 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star K2-252, located approximately 746.4 light-years (228.84 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2018 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0378% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.74 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.68 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.85 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.22 g⊕ (11.96 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-252, K2-252 b completes one full revolution every 13.815 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1041 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 82 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s).
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 639 K (+366°C / +691°F) and receiving 36.03 S⊕ (~49,039 W/m²), K2-252 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-252 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,152 K, a radius of 0.82 R☉, a mass of 0.79 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.425 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.09 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, K2-252 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.93 (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 | K2-252 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,152 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8200 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7900 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.425 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.090 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.930 · G: 12.620 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.104100 AU |
| Orbital Period | 13.815 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 82 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.85 g/cm³ (16.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 36.0315 S⊕ (~49,039 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 746.400 LY (228.839 pc) |