K2-83 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
K2-83 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star K2-83, located approximately 409.4 light-years (125.53 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by K2 using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0724% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.244 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.08 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.96 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.34 g⊕ (13.14 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 14.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around K2-83, K2-83 b completes one full revolution every 2.747 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.03014 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 119.4 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.07 carries the world between 0.028 AU at periapsis and 0.0322 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 707 K (+434°C / +813°F) and receiving 41.50 S⊕ (~56,482 W/m²), K2-83 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star K2-83 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,910 K, a radius of 0.424 R☉, a mass of 0.484 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.038 L☉. From Earth, K2-83 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.522 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The K2-83 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with K2-83 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside K2-83 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 | K2-83 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,910 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.4240 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.4840 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.038 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.522 · G: 13.804 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.030140 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.747 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 119.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.07000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.7200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.96 g/cm³ (14.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 41.5000 S⊕ (~56,482 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 409.400 LY (125.529 pc) |