TOI-4602.01
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-4602.01 is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-4602, located approximately 205.7 light-years (63.06 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2024 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0433% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.45 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 5.53 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.07 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 0.92 g⊕ (9.02 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-4602, TOI-4602.01 completes one full revolution every 3.981 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.04747 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 129.7 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 1344 K (+1071°C / +1960°F) and receiving 664.00 S⊕ (~903,704 W/m²), TOI-4602.01 orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-4602 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G5 with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,966 K, a radius of 1.08 R☉, a mass of 0.9 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.326 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.26 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-4602 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 8.32 (accessible to binoculars and small amateur telescopes) in the Northern 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-4602 |
| Spectral Type | G5 |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,966 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0800 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.326 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.260 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 8.320 · G: 8.173 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.047470 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.981 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 129.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.9300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.07 g/cm³ (16.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 664.0000 S⊕ (~903,704 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 205.700 LY (63.064 pc) |