TOI-1279 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-1279 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-1279, located approximately 349.2 light-years (107.06 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2024 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0838% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.661 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 10.6 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.1 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.5 g⊕ (14.71 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 22.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-1279, TOI-1279 b completes one full revolution every 9.614 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.085 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 96.2 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The orbit is modeled as circular (e = 0.00), maintaining a constant stellar distance throughout its year.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 759 K (+486°C / +907°F) and receiving 74.74 S⊕ (~101,716 W/m²), TOI-1279 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-1279 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,457 K, a radius of 0.8426 R☉, a mass of 0.8784 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.565 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.2 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.079 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, TOI-1279 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 10.714 (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-1279 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,457 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8426 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8784 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.565 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.079 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.200 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 10.714 · G: 10.479 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.085000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 9.614 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 96.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.1 g/cm³ (22.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 74.7359 S⊕ (~101,716 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 349.200 LY (107.055 pc) |