TOI-1279 b
TOI-1279 b is a super-Earth orbiting TOI-1279 in the constellation Ursa Major. It lies about 349 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2024 using the transit method.
How Big Is TOI-1279 b?
TOI-1279 b has a radius of 2.66 times that of Earth. Its mass is 10.6 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 3.05 g/cm³ — between that of rocky and gaseous planets.
Is TOI-1279 b in the Habitable Zone?
TOI-1279 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of TOI-1279. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of TOI-1279: 0.578–1.374 AU (conservative: 0.732–1.303 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on TOI-1279 b
The equilibrium temperature of TOI-1279 b is about 759 K (486 °C) — hot enough to melt many metals. 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-1279 b — one full orbit around TOI-1279 — lasts 9.61 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.085 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was TOI-1279 b Discovered?
TOI-1279 b was discovered in 2024 using the transit method, with observations from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
The transit method watches a star for the tiny, regular dip in brightness that occurs when a planet crosses in front of it. The depth and timing of these dips reveal the planet's size and orbital period.
How Far Away Is TOI-1279 b?
TOI-1279 b is 349.2 light-years (107.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1677. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 6,145,920 years to make the journey.
The Host Star: TOI-1279
TOI-1279
- Surface temperature
- 5,457 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.88 M☉
- Radius
- 0.84 R☉
- Luminosity
- 0.5710 L☉
- Age
- 4.2 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
TOI-1279 b is the only planet known to orbit TOI-1279 so far.
TOI-1279 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.661 Earth radii (0.237 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 10.60 Earth masses (0.033 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 3.05 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 9.61 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.085 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 759 K (486 °C) |
| Distance from Earth | 349.2 light-years (107.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Ursa Major |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) |
| Discovery year | 2024 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2024-07-22. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About TOI-1279 b
Is TOI-1279 b habitable?
No — TOI-1279 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is TOI-1279 b?
TOI-1279 b is about 349 light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 6,145,920 years to get there.
How big is TOI-1279 b compared to Earth?
TOI-1279 b has 2.66 times the radius of Earth and about 10.6 times its mass.
How long is a year on TOI-1279 b?
One orbit around TOI-1279 takes 9.6 Earth days — short enough that 38 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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