TOI-262 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-262 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-262, located approximately 143.3 light-years (43.93 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 0.0495% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.07 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.94 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.07 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.15 g⊕ (11.28 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-262, TOI-262 b completes one full revolution every 11.145 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.163 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 159.1 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s).
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 584 K (+311°C / +592°F) and receiving 56.91 S⊕ (~77,459 W/m²), TOI-262 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-262 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,310 K, a radius of 0.853 R☉, a mass of 0.913 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.519 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.8 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.26 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-262 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 8.91 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Southern 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-262 |
| Spectral Type | K0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,310 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8530 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9130 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.519 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.260 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.800 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 8.910 · G: 8.669 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.163000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 11.145 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 159.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.0110° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.07 g/cm³ (17.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 56.9133 S⊕ (~77,459 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 143.300 LY (43.932 pc) |