TOI-178 f
TOI-178 f is a mini-Neptune orbiting TOI-178 in the constellation Sculptor. It lies about 205 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2021 using the transit method.
How Big Is TOI-178 f?
TOI-178 f has a radius of 2.42 times that of Earth. Its mass is 5.6 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 2.22 g/cm³ — between that of rocky and gaseous planets.
Is TOI-178 f in the Habitable Zone?
The position of TOI-178 f relative to the habitable zone of TOI-178 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of TOI-178: 0.297–0.739 AU (conservative: 0.376–0.701 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
See the full interactive habitable-zone view in the Exoplanet Explorer app ›
Orbit and Year Length
A year on TOI-178 f — one full orbit around TOI-178 — lasts 15.2 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. Its orbit is nearly circular (eccentricity 0.000).
How Was TOI-178 f Discovered?
TOI-178 f was discovered in 2021 using the transit method, with observations from Multiple Observatories.
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-178 f?
TOI-178 f is 204.5 light-years (62.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1822. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 3,599,200 years to make the journey.
Earth Similarity Index
The Earth Similarity Index (ESI) scores how physically similar a planet is to Earth, from 0 to 1, based on radius, density, escape velocity and surface temperature. TOI-178 f scores 0.34, ranking #859 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: TOI-178
TOI-178
- Surface temperature
- 4,316 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.65 M☉
- Radius
- 0.66 R☉
- Luminosity
- 0.1360 L☉
- Age
- 6.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The TOI-178 Planetary System
TOI-178 f is one of 6 known planets in the TOI-178 system. Its siblings:
TOI-178 f — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.417 Earth radii (0.216 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 5.63 Earth masses (0.018 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 2.22 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 15.23 days |
| Eccentricity | 0.000 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.34 |
| Distance from Earth | 204.5 light-years (62.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Sculptor |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Multiple Observatories |
| Discovery year | 2021 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2025-11-20. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About TOI-178 f
Is TOI-178 f habitable?
TOI-178 f is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of TOI-178, and as a mini-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is TOI-178 f?
TOI-178 f is about 205 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sculptor. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 3,599,200 years to get there.
How big is TOI-178 f compared to Earth?
TOI-178 f has 2.42 times the radius of Earth and about 5.6 times its mass.
How long is a year on TOI-178 f?
One orbit around TOI-178 takes 15.2 Earth days — short enough that 24 of its years would fit into one Earth year.