K2-293 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-293 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star K2-293, located approximately 1279.4 light-years (392.25 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2019 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0563% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.45 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 6.57 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.46 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 18.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-293, K2-293 b completes one full revolution every 13.123 Earth days.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 750 K (+477°C / +891°F), K2-293 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-293 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,532 K, a radius of 0.947 R☉, a mass of 0.958 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.754 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.218 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, K2-293 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.44 (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 | K2-293 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,532 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9470 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9580 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.754 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.218 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.440 · G: 13.161 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 13.123 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.8000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.46 g/cm³ (18.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1279.400 LY (392.251 pc) |