TOI-4468 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-4468 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-4468, located approximately 1224.8 light-years (375.52 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2026 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.135% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.09 Earth radii (0.28 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 9.75 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.82 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.02 g⊕ (10 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-4468, TOI-4468 c completes one full revolution every 7.014 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0667 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 103.5 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.122 carries the world between 0.0586 AU at periapsis and 0.0748 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 846 K (+573°C / +1063°F) and receiving 83.10 S⊕ (~113,099 W/m²), TOI-4468 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-4468 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,170 K, a radius of 0.771 R☉, a mass of 0.805 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.381 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 7.4 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, TOI-4468 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.077 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The TOI-4468 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with TOI-4468 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside TOI-4468 b.
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-4468 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,170 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7710 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8050 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.381 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 7.400 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.077 · G: 13.868 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.066700 AU |
| Orbital Period | 7.014 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 103.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.12200 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.9500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.82 g/cm³ (19.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 83.1000 S⊕ (~113,099 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1224.800 LY (375.517 pc) |