TOI-237 b
TOI-237 b is a super-Earth orbiting the M4.5 V star TOI-237 in the constellation Sculptor. It lies about 124 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2020 using the transit method.
How Big Is TOI-237 b?
TOI-237 b has a radius of 1.44 times that of Earth.
Is TOI-237 b in the Habitable Zone?
TOI-237 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of TOI-237. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of TOI-237: 0.053–0.138 AU (conservative: 0.067–0.131 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on TOI-237 b
The equilibrium temperature of TOI-237 b is about 388 K (115 °C) — hotter than anywhere on Earth. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C. It receives 3.70 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on TOI-237 b — one full orbit around TOI-237 — lasts 5.44 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.034 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was TOI-237 b Discovered?
TOI-237 b was discovered in 2020 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-237 b?
TOI-237 b is 124.2 light-years (38.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1902. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 2,185,920 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-237 b scores 0.59, ranking #149 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: TOI-237
TOI-237
- Spectral type
- M4.5 V
- Surface temperature
- 3,212 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.18 M☉
- Radius
- 0.21 R☉
- Luminosity
- 0.0041 L☉
- Age
- 4.5 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The TOI-237 Planetary System
TOI-237 b is one of 2 known planets in the TOI-237 system. Its siblings:
- TOI-237 c (Terrestrial)
TOI-237 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.440 Earth radii (0.128 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 5.44 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.034 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 388 K (115 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 3.70× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.59 |
| Distance from Earth | 124.2 light-years (38.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Sculptor |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) |
| Discovery year | 2020 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2020-12-10. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About TOI-237 b
Is TOI-237 b habitable?
No — TOI-237 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is TOI-237 b?
TOI-237 b is about 124 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sculptor. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 2,185,920 years to get there.
How big is TOI-237 b compared to Earth?
TOI-237 b has 1.44 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on TOI-237 b?
One orbit around TOI-237 takes 5.4 Earth days — short enough that 67 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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