K2-348 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-348 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star K2-348, located approximately 658.4 light-years (201.86 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1236% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.26 Earth radii (0.29 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 10.7 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.7 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.01 g⊕ (9.9 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 20.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-348, K2-348 b completes one full revolution every 4.688 Earth days.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 908 K (+635°C / +1175°F) and receiving 133.08 S⊕ (~181,126 W/m²), K2-348 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-348 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,077 K, a radius of 0.85 R☉, a mass of 0.83 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.431 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.13 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, K2-348 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.572 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The K2-348 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with K2-348 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside K2-348 c.
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 | K2-348 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,077 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8500 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.431 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.130 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.572 · G: 12.327 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 4.688 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.7 g/cm³ (20.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 133.0830 S⊕ (~181,126 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 658.400 LY (201.856 pc) |