TIC 260969020 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TIC 260969020 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TIC 260969020, located approximately 395.4 light-years (121.22 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2026 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0876% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.227 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 5.59 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.79 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.13 g⊕ (11.08 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TIC 260969020, TIC 260969020 b completes one full revolution every 8.486 Earth days.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 2.227 R⊕, TIC 260969020 b exceeds the empirical ~1.8–2.2 R⊕ Fulton radius valley threshold, indicating a substantial hydrogen-helium or supercritical volatile envelope without a conventional solid terrestrial surface.
The host star TIC 260969020 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,573 K, a radius of 0.6899 R☉, a mass of 0.75 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.187 L☉. From Earth, TIC 260969020 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.393 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern 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: Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | TIC 260969020 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,573 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6899 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.187 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.393 · G: 12.122 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 8.486 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.7595° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.79 g/cm³ (17.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 395.400 LY (121.222 pc) |