TOI-2768 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-2768 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-2768, located approximately 255.9 light-years (78.45 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2024 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1347% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.63 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 7.41 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.25 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.07 g⊕ (10.49 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 18.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-2768, TOI-2768 b completes one full revolution every 1.508 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.027 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 194.8 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s).
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 855 K (+582°C / +1080°F) and receiving 89.05 S⊕ (~121,191 W/m²), TOI-2768 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-2768 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,008 K, a radius of 0.657 R☉, a mass of 0.63 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.1 L☉. From Earth, TOI-2768 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.66 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) 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-2768 |
| Spectral Type | M |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,008 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6570 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.6300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.1 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.660 · G: 12.200 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.027000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 1.508 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 194.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.7800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.25 g/cm³ (18.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 89.0458 S⊕ (~121,191 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 255.900 LY (78.453 pc) |