TOI-2431 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-2431 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-2431, located approximately 117.6 light-years (36.06 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2026 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0467% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.534 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 6.2 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 9.47 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 2.63 g⊕ (25.79 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 22.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-2431, TOI-2431 b completes one full revolution every 0.224 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0063 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 305.7 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 2063 K (+1790°C / +3254°F) and receiving 2,649.15 S⊕ (~3,605,493 W/m²), TOI-2431 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-2431 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K7 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,109 K, a radius of 0.651 R☉, a mass of 0.661 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.108 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, TOI-2431 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 10.9 (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-2431 |
| Spectral Type | K7 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,109 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6510 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.6610 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.108 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 10.900 · G: 10.323 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.006300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 0.224 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 305.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 74.0000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 9.47 g/cm³ (22.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 2649.1500 S⊕ (~3,605,493 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 117.600 LY (36.056 pc) |