K2-322 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-322 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star K2-322, located approximately 402.5 light-years (123.42 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2020 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0855% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.92 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.35 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.39 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.18 g⊕ (11.57 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-322, K2-322 b completes one full revolution every 8.205 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0594 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 78.8 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s).
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 635 K (+362°C / +684°F) and receiving 25.90 S⊕ (~35,256 W/m²), K2-322 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-322 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,141 K, a radius of 0.602 R☉, a mass of 0.63 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.096 L☉. From Earth, K2-322 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.963 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern 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 | K2-322 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,141 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6020 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.6300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.096 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.963 · G: 13.311 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.059400 AU |
| Orbital Period | 8.205 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 78.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.1500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.39 g/cm³ (16.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 25.9048 S⊕ (~35,256 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 402.500 LY (123.415 pc) |