K2-360 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-360 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star EPIC 201595106, located approximately 757 light-years (232.1 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2024 by Multiple Observatories using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 4.02 Earth radii (0.36 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 15.23 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.29 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.94 g⊕ (9.22 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 21.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around EPIC 201595106, K2-360 c completes one full revolution every 9.797 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0883 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 98.1 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.11 carries the world between 0.0786 AU at periapsis and 0.098 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 912 K (+639°C / +1182°F) and receiving 115.00 S⊕ (~156,515 W/m²), K2-360 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star EPIC 201595106 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,679 K, a radius of 0.98 R☉, a mass of 0.958 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.896 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.01 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, EPIC 201595106 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.746 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The EPIC 201595106 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with K2-360 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside EPIC 201595106 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: Multiple Observatories · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | EPIC 201595106 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,679 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9800 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9580 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.896 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.010 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.746 · G: 11.648 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.088300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 9.797 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 98.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.11000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.29 g/cm³ (21.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 115.0000 S⊕ (~156,515 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 757.000 LY (232.100 pc) |