TOI-286 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-286 c is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-286, located approximately 193.2 light-years (59.23 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 0.0488% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.88 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.72 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.09 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.05 g⊕ (10.3 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-286, TOI-286 c completes one full revolution every 39.362 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.213 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 58.9 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 475 K (+202°C / +396°F) and receiving 22.44 S⊕ (~30,546 W/m²), TOI-286 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-286 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K3 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,152 K, a radius of 0.78 R☉, a mass of 0.832 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.385 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.05 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, TOI-286 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 9.866 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The TOI-286 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with TOI-286 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside TOI-286 b.
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-286 |
| Spectral Type | K3 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,152 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7800 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8320 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.385 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.050 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 9.866 · G: 9.651 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.213000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 39.362 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 58.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.6900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.09 g/cm³ (15.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 22.4437 S⊕ (~30,546 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 193.200 LY (59.229 pc) |