TOI-132 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-132 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-132, located approximately 533.8 light-years (163.68 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2020 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1214% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.42 Earth radii (0.31 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 22.4 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.09 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.92 g⊕ (18.83 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 28.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-132, TOI-132 b completes one full revolution every 2.11 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.026 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 134.1 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.059 carries the world between 0.0245 AU at periapsis and 0.0275 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1395 K (+1122°C / +2052°F) and receiving 860.00 S⊕ (~1,170,460 W/m²), TOI-132 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-132 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G8 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,397 K, a radius of 0.9 R☉, a mass of 0.97 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.617 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.34 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.16 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-132 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.197 (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-132 |
| Spectral Type | G8 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,397 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9700 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.617 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.160 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.340 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.197 · G: 11.321 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.026000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.11 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 134.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.05900 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.0300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.09 g/cm³ (28.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 860.0000 S⊕ (~1,170,460 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 533.800 LY (163.678 pc) |