TOI-262 b
TOI-262 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting the K0 V star TOI-262 in the constellation Fornax. It lies about 143 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2023 using the transit method.
How Big Is TOI-262 b?
TOI-262 b has a radius of 2.07 times that of Earth.
Is TOI-262 b in the Habitable Zone?
TOI-262 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of TOI-262. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of TOI-262: 0.555–1.327 AU (conservative: 0.704–1.259 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on TOI-262 b
The equilibrium temperature of TOI-262 b is about 584 K (311 °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-262 b — one full orbit around TOI-262 — lasts 11.1 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.163 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was TOI-262 b Discovered?
TOI-262 b was discovered in 2023 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-262 b?
TOI-262 b is 143.3 light-years (43.9 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1883. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 2,522,080 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-262 b scores 0.32, ranking #1,067 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: TOI-262
TOI-262
- Spectral type
- K0 V
- Surface temperature
- 5,310 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.91 M☉
- Radius
- 0.85 R☉
- Age
- 0.8 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
TOI-262 b is the only planet known to orbit TOI-262 so far.
TOI-262 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.070 Earth radii (0.185 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 11.15 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.163 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 584 K (311 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.32 |
| Distance from Earth | 143.3 light-years (43.9 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Fornax |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) |
| Discovery year | 2023 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2023-08-22. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About TOI-262 b
Is TOI-262 b habitable?
No — TOI-262 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is TOI-262 b?
TOI-262 b is about 143 light-years from Earth in the constellation Fornax. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 2,522,080 years to get there.
How big is TOI-262 b compared to Earth?
TOI-262 b has 2.07 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on TOI-262 b?
One orbit around TOI-262 takes 11.1 Earth days — short enough that 33 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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