TOI-480 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-480 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-480, located approximately 177.9 light-years (54.53 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 0.0309% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.854 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 20.8 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.93 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 2.55 g⊕ (25.01 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 30.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-480, TOI-480 b completes one full revolution every 6.866 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.077 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 122 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 1199 K (+926°C / +1699°F) and receiving 531.52 S⊕ (~723,400 W/m²), TOI-480 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-480 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,174 K, a radius of 1.4877 R☉, a mass of 1.2793 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.885 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.7 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.164 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-480 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 7.28 (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-480 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,174 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.4877 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.2793 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.885 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.164 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.700 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 7.280 · G: 7.144 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.077000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 6.866 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 122 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.93 g/cm³ (30.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 531.5210 S⊕ (~723,400 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 177.900 LY (54.531 pc) |