TOI-672 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
TOI-672 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star TOI-672, located approximately 218.2 light-years (66.91 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2023 by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.8127% across the stellar disk), this world measures 5.31 Earth radii (0.47 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 50.9 Earth masses (0.16 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.87 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.81 g⊕ (17.75 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 34.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around TOI-672, TOI-672 b completes one full revolution every 3.634 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0376 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 112.6 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 700 K (+427°C / +801°F) and receiving 39.80 S⊕ (~54,168 W/m²), TOI-672 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star TOI-672 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,810 K, a radius of 0.54 R☉, a mass of 0.54 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.055 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.14 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, TOI-672 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.576 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) 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-672 |
| Spectral Type | M0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,810 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.5400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.055 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.140 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.576 · G: 12.736 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.037600 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.634 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 112.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.0000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.87 g/cm³ (34.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 39.8000 S⊕ (~54,168 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 218.200 LY (66.907 pc) |