TOI-4010 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-4010 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-4010, located approximately 578.9 light-years (177.5 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 0.429% across the stellar disk), this world measures 5.93 Earth radii (0.53 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 20.31 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.54 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.58 g⊕ (5.69 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 20.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-4010, TOI-4010 c completes one full revolution every 5.415 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.058 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 116.5 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.03 (ranging from 0.0563 AU at periapsis to 0.0597 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 907 K (+634°C / +1173°F) and receiving 112.00 S⊕ (~152,432 W/m²), TOI-4010 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-4010 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,960 K, a radius of 0.83 R☉, a mass of 0.88 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.374 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.1 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.37 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-4010 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.291 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The TOI-4010 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 4 confirmed worlds, with TOI-4010 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside TOI-4010 b, TOI-4010 d, TOI-4010 e.
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-4010 |
| Spectral Type | K V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,960 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8300 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.374 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.370 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.100 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.291 · G: 12.122 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 4 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.058000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.415 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 116.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.03000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.8000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.54 g/cm³ (20.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 112.0000 S⊕ (~152,432 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 578.900 LY (177.504 pc) |