TOI-2969 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-2969 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-2969, located approximately 534.9 light-years (164 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2025 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 2.6078% across the stellar disk), this world measures 12.33 Earth radii (1.1 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 368.681 Earth masses (1.16 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.08 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 2.43 g⊕ (23.83 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 61.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-2969, TOI-2969 b completes one full revolution every 1.824 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0261 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 155.7 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 1186 K (+913°C / +1675°F) and receiving 382.00 S⊕ (~519,902 W/m²), TOI-2969 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-2969 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K3 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,738 K, a radius of 0.7 R☉, a mass of 0.71 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.222 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.08 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-2969 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.796 (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-2969 |
| Spectral Type | K3 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,738 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.222 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.080 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.796 · G: 12.620 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.026100 AU |
| Orbital Period | 1.824 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 155.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 84.9000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.08 g/cm³ (61.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 382.0000 S⊕ (~519,902 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 534.900 LY (163.996 pc) |