TOI-216.02
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-216.02 is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-216, located approximately 580.4 light-years (177.95 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2019 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.9614% across the stellar disk), this world measures 8 Earth radii (0.71 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 18.752 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.2 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.29 g⊕ (2.84 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-216, TOI-216.02 completes one full revolution every 17.161 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1293 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 82 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.16 carries the world between 0.1086 AU at periapsis and 0.15 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 628 K (+355°C / +671°F) and receiving 25.90 S⊕ (~35,250 W/m²), TOI-216.02 orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-216 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,026 K, a radius of 0.748 R☉, a mass of 0.77 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.32 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.32 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-216 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.324 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The TOI-216 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with TOI-216.02 sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside TOI-216.01.
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-216 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,026 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7480 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7700 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.32 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.320 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.324 · G: 12.163 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.129300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 17.161 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 82 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.16000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.6000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.2 g/cm³ (17.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 25.9000 S⊕ (~35,250 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 580.400 LY (177.945 pc) |