TOI-1468 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-1468 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-1468, located approximately 80.7 light-years (24.74 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 0.2754% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.126 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.1 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.35 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 0.91 g⊕ (8.92 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-1468, TOI-1468 c completes one full revolution every 15.532 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.08608 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 60.3 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.111 carries the world between 0.0765 AU at periapsis and 0.0956 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
ℹ️ Thermal & Atmospheric Regime: Current photometric and spectroscopic constraints for TOI-1468 c place it outside the conservative habitable zone definition pending further atmospheric characterization.
The host star TOI-1468 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M3.0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,376 K, a radius of 0.3714 R☉, a mass of 0.3527 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.016 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.01 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, TOI-1468 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.5 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The TOI-1468 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with TOI-1468 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside TOI-1468 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: Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | TOI-1468 |
| Spectral Type | M3.0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,376 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.3714 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.3527 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.016 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.010 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.500 · G: 12.117 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.086080 AU |
| Orbital Period | 15.532 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 60.3 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.11100 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.2200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.35 g/cm³ (15.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 2.1300 S⊕ (~2,899 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 80.700 LY (24.740 pc) |