TOI-5696 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-5696 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-5696, located approximately 216.7 light-years (66.45 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 0.0822% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.59 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 7.22 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.29 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.08 g⊕ (10.59 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 18.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-5696, TOI-5696 b completes one full revolution every 32.43 Earth days. The orbit is modeled as circular (e = 0.00), maintaining a constant stellar distance throughout its year.
❄️ Thermal Regime (Cryogenic Zone): With an equilibrium temperature of 80 K (-193°C / -315°F) and an incident flux of 0.01 S⊕ (~9 W/m²), surface water and volatile species on TOI-5696 b would remain locked in cryogenic ice phases unless warmed by subsurface tidal or radiogenic heating.
The host star TOI-5696 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,271 K, a radius of 0.828 R☉, a mass of 0.9 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.475 L☉. From Earth, TOI-5696 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 9.835 (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-5696 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,271 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8280 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.475 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | — |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 9.835 · G: 9.651 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 32.43 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.29 g/cm³ (18.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.0068 S⊕ (~9 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 216.700 LY (66.452 pc) |