K2-316 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-316 c is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star K2-316, located approximately 366.9 light-years (112.49 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2020 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.196% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.83 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.01 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.61 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.2 g⊕ (11.77 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-316, K2-316 c completes one full revolution every 5.26 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0582 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 120.4 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s).
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 423 K (+150°C / +302°F) and receiving 4.37 S⊕ (~5,948 W/m²), K2-316 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-316 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,436 K, a radius of 0.379 R☉, a mass of 0.408 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.018 L☉. From Earth, K2-316 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 17.14 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The K2-316 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with K2-316 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside K2-316 b.
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 | K2-316 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,436 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.3790 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.4080 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.018 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 17.140 · G: 15.514 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.058200 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.26 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 120.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.3100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.61 g/cm³ (16.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 4.3703 S⊕ (~5,948 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 366.900 LY (112.486 pc) |