TOI-1294 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-1294 c 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 W. M. Keck Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 14.3 Earth radii (1.28 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 147 Earth masses (0.46 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.28 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.72 g⊕ (7.06 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 35.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-1294, TOI-1294 c completes one full revolution every 159.9 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.61 AU (situated at an orbital separation between Mercury's 0.39 AU and Venus's 0.72 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 41.5 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 440 K (+167°C / +333°F) and receiving 6.28 S⊕ (~8,544 W/m²), TOI-1294 c 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 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside TOI-1294 b.
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: W. M. Keck Observatory · 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) | 0.610000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 159.9 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 41.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.28 g/cm³ (35.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 6.2779 S⊕ (~8,544 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1085.000 LY (332.648 pc) |