TOI-1431 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-1431 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-1431, located approximately 485.7 light-years (148.93 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.636% across the stellar disk), this world measures 16.701 Earth radii (1.49 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 991.625 Earth masses (3.12 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.17 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 3.56 g⊕ (34.91 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 86.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-1431, TOI-1431 b completes one full revolution every 2.65 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.046 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 188.8 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.0022 (ranging from 0.0459 AU at periapsis to 0.0461 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 2370 K (+2097°C / +3807°F) and receiving 5,300.00 S⊕ (~7,213,300 W/m²), TOI-1431 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-1431 is classified as a luminous A-type star of spectral type Am C with an effective photospheric temperature of 7,690 K, a radius of 1.92 R☉, a mass of 1.9 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 11.566 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.29 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.09 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-1431 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 8.03 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) 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-1431 |
| Spectral Type | Am C |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 7,690 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.9200 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.9000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 11.566 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.090 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.290 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 8.030 · G: 7.976 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.046000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.65 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 188.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00220 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 80.1300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.17 g/cm³ (86.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 5300.0000 S⊕ (~7,213,300 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 485.700 LY (148.925 pc) |