K2-394 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-394 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star K2-394, located approximately 319.7 light-years (98.02 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2022 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0604% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.692 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.51 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.23 g⊕ (12.06 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-394, K2-394 b completes one full revolution every 5.096 Earth days.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 643 K (+370°C / +698°F) and receiving 28.51 S⊕ (~38,798 W/m²), K2-394 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-394 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,938 K, a radius of 0.631 R☉, a mass of 0.478 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.212 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.388 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, K2-394 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.768 (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 | K2-394 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,938 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6310 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.4780 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.212 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.388 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.768 · G: 12.210 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 5.096 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4 g/cm³ (16.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 28.5068 S⊕ (~38,798 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 319.700 LY (98.015 pc) |