TOI-5961 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-5961 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-5961, located approximately 85.6 light-years (26.25 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 0.0325% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.38 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.48 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.2 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.3 g⊕ (12.75 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-5961, TOI-5961 b completes one full revolution every 1.618 Earth days. 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 956 K (+683°C / +1261°F) and receiving 197.21 S⊕ (~268,399 W/m²), TOI-5961 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-5961 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K7V: with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,901 K, a radius of 0.7017 R☉, a mass of 0.6 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.102 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.176 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-5961 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 10.51 (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-5961 |
| Spectral Type | K7V: |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,901 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7017 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.6000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.102 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.176 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 10.510 · G: 9.878 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 1.618 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.2 g/cm³ (15 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 197.2075 S⊕ (~268,399 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 85.600 LY (26.253 pc) |