TOI-237 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-237 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-237, located approximately 124.2 light-years (38.08 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2020 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.3915% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.44 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.67 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.93 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.29 g⊕ (12.65 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-237, TOI-237 b completes one full revolution every 5.436 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0341 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 68.2 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The orbit is modeled as circular (e = 0.00), maintaining a constant stellar distance throughout its year.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 388 K (+115°C / +239°F) and receiving 3.70 S⊕ (~5,036 W/m²), TOI-237 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-237 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M4.5 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,212 K, a radius of 0.211 R☉, a mass of 0.179 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.00425 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.5 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.344 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-237 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 16.37 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The TOI-237 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with TOI-237 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside TOI-237 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-237 |
| Spectral Type | M4.5 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,212 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.2110 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.1790 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.00425 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.344 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.500 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 16.370 · G: 14.754 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.034100 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.436 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 68.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.5000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.93 g/cm³ (15.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 3.7000 S⊕ (~5,036 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 124.200 LY (38.075 pc) |