K2-350 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-350 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star K2-350, located approximately 1596.1 light-years (489.37 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0184% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.54 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.99 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.51 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.26 g⊕ (12.36 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-350, K2-350 b completes one full revolution every 4.164 Earth days.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1158 K (+885°C / +1625°F), K2-350 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-350 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,789 K, a radius of 1.04 R☉, a mass of 0.98 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.09 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, K2-350 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.449 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The K2-350 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with K2-350 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside K2-350 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 | K2-350 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,789 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.09 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.449 · G: 13.312 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 4.164 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.51 g/cm³ (15.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1596.100 LY (489.368 pc) |