K2-72 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-72 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star K2-72, located approximately 216.7 light-years (66.43 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0895% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.08 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 1.28 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.6 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.1 g⊕ (10.79 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 12.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-72, K2-72 b completes one full revolution every 5.577 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.04 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 78 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.11 carries the world between 0.0356 AU at periapsis and 0.0444 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 466 K (+193°C / +379°F) and receiving 8.50 S⊕ (~11,569 W/m²), K2-72 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-72 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,360 K, a radius of 0.331 R☉, a mass of 0.2714 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.013 L☉. From Earth, K2-72 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.37 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The K2-72 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 4 confirmed worlds, with K2-72 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside K2-72 d, K2-72 c, K2-72 e.
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 | K2-72 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,360 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.3310 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.2714 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.013 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.370 · G: 14.279 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 4 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.040000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.577 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 78 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.11000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.1500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.6 g/cm³ (12.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 8.5000 S⊕ (~11,569 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 216.700 LY (66.432 pc) |