K2-343 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-343 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star K2-343, located approximately 542 light-years (166.17 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1621% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.02 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.74 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.17 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.16 g⊕ (11.38 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-343, K2-343 c completes one full revolution every 7.677 Earth days.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 465 K (+192°C / +378°F), K2-343 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-343 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,804 K, a radius of 0.46 R☉, a mass of 0.49 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.04 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.1 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, K2-343 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 16.01 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The K2-343 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with K2-343 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside K2-343 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 | K2-343 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,804 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.4600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.4900 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.04 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.100 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 16.010 · G: 15.131 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 7.677 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.17 g/cm³ (17.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 542.000 LY (166.169 pc) |