TOI-2068 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-2068 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-2068, located approximately 172.6 light-years (52.93 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2024 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0974% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.821 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.97 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.63 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.2 g⊕ (11.77 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-2068, TOI-2068 b completes one full revolution every 7.769 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0632 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 88.5 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s).
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 521 K (+248°C / +478°F) and receiving 12.23 S⊕ (~16,645 W/m²), TOI-2068 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-2068 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,710 K, a radius of 0.535 R☉, a mass of 0.559 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.049 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 7 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.27 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-2068 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.007 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) 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-2068 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,710 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.5350 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5590 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.049 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.270 dex |
| Stellar Age | 7.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.007 · G: 12.221 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.063200 AU |
| Orbital Period | 7.769 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 88.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.0100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.63 g/cm³ (16.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 12.2300 S⊕ (~16,645 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 172.600 LY (52.933 pc) |