K2-334 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-334 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star K2-334, located approximately 1212.7 light-years (371.82 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1209% across the stellar disk), this world measures 5.65 Earth radii (0.5 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 27.2 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.83 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.85 g⊕ (8.34 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 24.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-334, K2-334 b completes one full revolution every 5.114 Earth days.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1380 K (+1107°C / +2025°F) and receiving 832.23 S⊕ (~1,132,664 W/m²), K2-334 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-334 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,502 K, a radius of 1.49 R☉, a mass of 1.36 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 3.56 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.17 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, K2-334 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.842 (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 | K2-334 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,502 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.4900 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.3600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 3.56 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.170 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.842 · G: 11.348 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 5.114 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.5800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.83 g/cm³ (24.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 832.2294 S⊕ (~1,132,664 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1212.700 LY (371.823 pc) |