TOI-1266 d
TOI-1266 d is a super-Earth orbiting the M2 star TOI-1266 in the constellation Draco. It lies about 118 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2025 using the transit timing variations method. It orbits within the habitable zone of its star — the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface.
Is TOI-1266 d in the Habitable Zone?
TOI-1266 d orbits within the optimistic habitable zone of TOI-1266 — the broader region where liquid water might be possible under favorable atmospheric conditions.
Habitable zone of TOI-1266: 0.133–0.343 AU (conservative: 0.168–0.325 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on TOI-1266 d
The equilibrium temperature of TOI-1266 d is about 288 K (15 °C) — in a range broadly comparable to Earth, whose equilibrium temperature is 255 K. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on TOI-1266 d — one full orbit around TOI-1266 — lasts 32.5 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.151 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.09).
How Was TOI-1266 d Discovered?
TOI-1266 d was discovered in 2025 using the transit timing variations method, with observations from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
Transit timing variations reveal a planet through its gravitational tug on a sibling planet, which makes that sibling's transits arrive slightly early or late. The pattern of these deviations betrays the hidden planet's mass and orbit.
How Far Away Is TOI-1266 d?
TOI-1266 d is 117.5 light-years (36.0 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1909. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 2,068,000 years to make the journey.
The Host Star: TOI-1266
TOI-1266
- Spectral type
- M2
- Surface temperature
- 3,563 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.44 M☉
- Radius
- 0.42 R☉
- Luminosity
- 0.0263 L☉
- Age
- 4.6 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The TOI-1266 Planetary System
TOI-1266 d is one of 3 known planets in the TOI-1266 system. Its siblings:
- TOI-1266 b (Mini Neptune)
- TOI-1266 c (Mini Neptune)
TOI-1266 d — Complete Data
| Mass | 3.68 Earth masses (0.012 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 32.51 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.151 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.087 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 288 K (15 °C) |
| Distance from Earth | 117.5 light-years (36.0 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Draco |
| Discovery method | Transit Timing Variations |
| Discovery facility | Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) |
| Discovery year | 2025 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2025-03-21. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About TOI-1266 d
Is TOI-1266 d habitable?
TOI-1266 d orbits within the habitable zone of TOI-1266, the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface. Whether it is actually habitable depends on its atmosphere and composition, which remain unknown.
How far away is TOI-1266 d?
TOI-1266 d is about 118 light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 2,068,000 years to get there.
How long is a year on TOI-1266 d?
One orbit around TOI-1266 takes 32.5 Earth days — short enough that 11 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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