K2-294 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-294 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star K2-294, located approximately 1216.8 light-years (373.08 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2019 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0161% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.66 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.39 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.09 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.23 g⊕ (12.06 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-294, K2-294 b completes one full revolution every 2.504 Earth days.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1425 K (+1152°C / +2106°F), K2-294 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-294 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,612 K, a radius of 1.2 R☉, a mass of 0.987 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.282 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.194 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, K2-294 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.649 (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 | K2-294 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,612 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.2000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9870 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.282 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.194 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.649 · G: 12.370 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 2.504 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.5000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.09 g/cm³ (16 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1216.800 LY (373.078 pc) |