TOI-3493 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-3493 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-3493, located approximately 315.5 light-years (96.72 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 0.0578% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.22 Earth radii (0.29 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 8.97 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.48 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.87 g⊕ (8.53 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 18.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-3493, TOI-3493 b completes one full revolution every 8.159 Earth days.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1102 K (+829°C / +1524°F) and receiving 245.00 S⊕ (~333,445 W/m²), TOI-3493 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-3493 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G1/2 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,844 K, a radius of 1.228 R☉, a mass of 1.023 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.578 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 7.3 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, TOI-3493 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 9.317 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) 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-3493 |
| Spectral Type | G1/2 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,844 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.2280 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0230 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.578 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 7.300 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 9.317 · G: 9.120 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 8.159 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | Circular (0.00) |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.2500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.48 g/cm³ (18.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 245.0000 S⊕ (~333,445 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 315.500 LY (96.722 pc) |