TOI-260 b
TOI-260 b is a super-Earth orbiting the K8 V star TOI-260 in the constellation Cetus. It lies about 66 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2024 using the transit method.
How Big Is TOI-260 b?
TOI-260 b has a radius of 1.71 times that of Earth. Its mass is 4.2 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 4.66 g/cm³ — comparable to rocky planets like Earth (5.51 g/cm³).
Is TOI-260 b in the Habitable Zone?
TOI-260 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of TOI-260. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of TOI-260: 0.240–0.605 AU (conservative: 0.303–0.574 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 ›
Temperature on TOI-260 b
The equilibrium temperature of TOI-260 b is about 493 K (220 °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.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on TOI-260 b — one full orbit around TOI-260 — lasts 13.5 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.094 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was TOI-260 b Discovered?
TOI-260 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-260 b?
TOI-260 b is 65.8 light-years (20.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1961. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 1,158,080 years to make the journey.
The Host Star: TOI-260
TOI-260
- Spectral type
- K8 V
- Surface temperature
- 4,026 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.62 M☉
- Radius
- 0.61 R☉
- Luminosity
- 0.0873 L☉
Planetary System
TOI-260 b is the only planet known to orbit TOI-260 so far.
TOI-260 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.710 Earth radii (0.153 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 4.23 Earth masses (0.013 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 4.66 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 13.48 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.094 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 493 K (220 °C) |
| Distance from Earth | 65.8 light-years (20.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cetus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) |
| Discovery year | 2024 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2024-08-30. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About TOI-260 b
Is TOI-260 b habitable?
No — TOI-260 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is TOI-260 b?
TOI-260 b is about 66 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cetus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 1,158,080 years to get there.
How big is TOI-260 b compared to Earth?
TOI-260 b has 1.71 times the radius of Earth and about 4.2 times its mass.
How long is a year on TOI-260 b?
One orbit around TOI-260 takes 13.5 Earth days — short enough that 27 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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