K2-62 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-62 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star K2-62, located approximately 366.8 light-years (112.47 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0708% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.02 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.74 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.17 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.16 g⊕ (11.38 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-62, K2-62 b completes one full revolution every 6.672 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0636 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 103.7 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s).
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 666 K (+393°C / +739°F) and receiving 46.70 S⊕ (~63,559 W/m²), K2-62 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-62 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,455 K, a radius of 0.696 R☉, a mass of 0.67 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.171 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.1 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, K2-62 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.391 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The K2-62 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with K2-62 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside K2-62 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 | K2-62 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,455 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6960 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.6700 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.171 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.100 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.391 · G: 12.043 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.063600 AU |
| Orbital Period | 6.672 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 103.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.0998° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.17 g/cm³ (17.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 46.7000 S⊕ (~63,559 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 366.800 LY (112.467 pc) |