TOI-2986 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-2986 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-2986, located approximately 1836.7 light-years (563.15 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 0.3414% across the stellar disk), this world measures 9.292 Earth radii (0.83 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 96.62 Earth masses (0.3 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.66 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.12 g⊕ (10.98 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 36.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-2986, TOI-2986 b completes one full revolution every 3.278 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.04489 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 149 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.14 carries the world between 0.0386 AU at periapsis and 0.0512 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1622 K (+1349°C / +2460°F) and receiving 1,156.00 S⊕ (~1,573,316 W/m²), TOI-2986 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-2986 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,906 K, a radius of 1.458 R☉, a mass of 1.122 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.32 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.3 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.095 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-2986 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.633 (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-2986 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,906 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.4580 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1220 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.32 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.095 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.300 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.633 · G: 12.476 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.044890 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.278 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 149 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.14000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.8000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.66 g/cm³ (36.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1156.0000 S⊕ (~1,573,316 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1836.700 LY (563.149 pc) |