TOI-1294 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-1294 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-1294, located approximately 1085 light-years (332.65 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 0.3555% across the stellar disk), this world measures 10.124 Earth radii (0.9 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 63.9 Earth masses (0.2 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.34 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.62 g⊕ (6.08 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 28.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-1294, TOI-1294 b completes one full revolution every 3.915 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.051 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 141.7 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 1393 K (+1120°C / +2048°F) and receiving 311.50 S⊕ (~423,949 W/m²), TOI-1294 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-1294 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,718 K, a radius of 1.5566 R☉, a mass of 1.1578 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.324 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.2 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.283 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-1294 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.314 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The TOI-1294 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with TOI-1294 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside TOI-1294 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: Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | TOI-1294 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,718 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.5566 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1578 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.324 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.283 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.200 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.314 · G: 11.400 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.051000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.915 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 141.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.34 g/cm³ (28.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 311.4980 S⊕ (~423,949 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1085.000 LY (332.648 pc) |