TOI-332 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-332 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-332, located approximately 726.8 light-years (222.85 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 0.1137% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.2 Earth radii (0.29 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 57.2 Earth masses (0.18 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 9.63 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 5.59 g⊕ (54.82 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 47.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-332, TOI-332 b completes one full revolution every 0.777 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0159 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 222.6 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 1871 K (+1598°C / +2908°F) and receiving 4,180.32 S⊕ (~5,689,416 W/m²), TOI-332 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-332 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,251 K, a radius of 0.87 R☉, a mass of 0.88 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.516 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.256 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-332 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.349 (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-332 |
| Spectral Type | K0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,251 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8700 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.516 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.256 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.349 · G: 12.063 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.015900 AU |
| Orbital Period | 0.777 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 222.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.4000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 9.63 g/cm³ (47.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 4180.3200 S⊕ (~5,689,416 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 726.800 LY (222.852 pc) |