TOI-1422 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-1422 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-1422, located approximately 506 light-years (155.14 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 0.1187% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.83 Earth radii (0.34 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 9.5 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.93 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.65 g⊕ (6.37 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-1422, TOI-1422 b completes one full revolution every 12.999 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.107 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 89.6 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.2 carries the world between 0.0856 AU at periapsis and 0.1284 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 870 K (+597°C / +1107°F) and receiving 90.52 S⊕ (~123,191 W/m²), TOI-1422 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-1422 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G2 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,840 K, a radius of 1.019 R☉, a mass of 0.9903 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.084 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.6 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.028 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, TOI-1422 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 10.622 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The TOI-1422 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with TOI-1422 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside TOI-1422 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-1422 |
| Spectral Type | G2 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,840 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0190 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9903 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.084 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.028 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.600 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 10.622 · G: 10.552 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.107000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 12.999 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 89.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.20000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.5300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.93 g/cm³ (17.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 90.5151 S⊕ (~123,191 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 506.000 LY (155.141 pc) |