TOI-1226 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-1226 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-1226, located approximately 841.3 light-years (257.93 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 0.0501% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.41 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 6.39 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.52 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.1 g⊕ (10.79 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 18.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-1226, TOI-1226 b completes one full revolution every 3.929 Earth days.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1123 K (+850°C / +1562°F) and receiving 376.46 S⊕ (~512,364 W/m²), TOI-1226 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-1226 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,435 K, a radius of 0.9869 R☉, a mass of 1.01 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.762 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.129 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-1226 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.118 (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 | TOI-1226 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,435 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9869 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.762 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.129 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.118 · G: 12.025 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 3.929 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.2034° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.52 g/cm³ (18.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 376.4613 S⊕ (~512,364 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 841.300 LY (257.930 pc) |