TOI-1268 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-1268 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-1268, located approximately 357.3 light-years (109.56 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2022 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.8223% across the stellar disk), this world measures 9.1 Earth radii (0.81 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 96.4 Earth masses (0.3 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.71 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.16 g⊕ (11.38 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 36.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-1268, TOI-1268 b completes one full revolution every 8.158 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0711 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 94.8 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.105 carries the world between 0.0636 AU at periapsis and 0.0786 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 919 K (+646°C / +1195°F) and receiving 91.10 S⊕ (~123,983 W/m²), TOI-1268 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-1268 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K1-K2 with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,300 K, a radius of 0.92 R☉, a mass of 0.96 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.599 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.245 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.36 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-1268 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 10.92 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern 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-1268 |
| Spectral Type | K1-K2 |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,300 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9200 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.599 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.360 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.245 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 10.920 · G: 10.692 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.071100 AU |
| Orbital Period | 8.158 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 94.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.10500 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.6300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.71 g/cm³ (36.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 91.0972 S⊕ (~123,983 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 357.300 LY (109.557 pc) |