K2-346 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-346 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star K2-346, located approximately 344.4 light-years (105.58 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0876% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.26 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 5.73 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.74 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.12 g⊕ (10.98 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-346, K2-346 b completes one full revolution every 26.201 Earth days.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 450 K (+177°C / +351°F) and receiving 8.81 S⊕ (~11,996 W/m²), K2-346 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-346 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,801 K, a radius of 0.7 R☉, a mass of 0.71 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.234 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.18 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, K2-346 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.903 (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 | K2-346 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,801 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.234 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.180 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.903 · G: 11.683 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 26.201 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.5166° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.74 g/cm³ (17.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 8.8138 S⊕ (~11,996 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 344.400 LY (105.580 pc) |