K2-414 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-414 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star K2-414, located approximately 848.1 light-years (260.04 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2022 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0233% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.219 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 1.98 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 6.03 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.33 g⊕ (13.04 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 14.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-414, K2-414 b completes one full revolution every 4.37 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0487 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 121.2 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s).
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 812 K (+539°C / +1002°F) and receiving 72.11 S⊕ (~98,146 W/m²), K2-414 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-414 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,343 K, a radius of 0.732 R☉, a mass of 0.814 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.171 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.102 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, K2-414 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.289 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The K2-414 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with K2-414 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside K2-414 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 | K2-414 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,343 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7320 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8140 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.171 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.102 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.289 · G: 13.938 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.048700 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4.37 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 121.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 90.0045° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 6.03 g/cm³ (14.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 72.1130 S⊕ (~98,146 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 848.100 LY (260.036 pc) |