TOI-5076 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-5076 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-5076, located approximately 270.2 light-years (82.86 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 0.1436% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.489 Earth radii (0.31 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 16.146 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.1 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.33 g⊕ (13.04 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 24.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-5076, TOI-5076 b completes one full revolution every 23.443 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1481 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 68.7 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 550 K (+277°C / +531°F) and receiving 12.84 S⊕ (~17,472 W/m²), TOI-5076 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-5076 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K2 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,780 K, a radius of 0.844 R☉, a mass of 0.789 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.334 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 8.4 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.082 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-5076 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 10.9 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) 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-5076 |
| Spectral Type | K2 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,780 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8440 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7890 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.334 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.082 dex |
| Stellar Age | 8.400 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 10.900 · G: 10.593 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.148100 AU |
| Orbital Period | 23.443 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 68.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.8400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.1 g/cm³ (24.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 12.8373 S⊕ (~17,472 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 270.200 LY (82.857 pc) |