TOI-2096 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-2096 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-2096, located approximately 158.1 light-years (48.48 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2023 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.2352% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.243 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.08 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.97 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.35 g⊕ (13.24 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 14.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-2096, TOI-2096 b completes one full revolution every 3.119 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.025 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 87.2 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.15 carries the world between 0.0213 AU at periapsis and 0.0287 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 445 K (+172°C / +342°F) and receiving 9.40 S⊕ (~12,793 W/m²), TOI-2096 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-2096 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M4 with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,300 K, a radius of 0.235 R☉, a mass of 0.231 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.00588 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, TOI-2096 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.92 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The TOI-2096 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with TOI-2096 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside TOI-2096 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-2096 |
| Spectral Type | M4 |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,300 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.2350 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.2310 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.00588 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.920 · G: 14.774 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.025000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.119 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 87.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.15000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.2400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.97 g/cm³ (14.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 9.4000 S⊕ (~12,793 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 158.100 LY (48.481 pc) |