TOI-3493 b
TOI-3493 b is a puffy low-density planet orbiting the G1/2 V star TOI-3493 in the constellation Virgo. It lies about 316 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2025 using the transit method.
How Big Is TOI-3493 b?
TOI-3493 b has a radius of 3.22 times that of Earth. Its mass is 9.0 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 1.47 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is TOI-3493 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of TOI-3493 b relative to the habitable zone of TOI-3493 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of TOI-3493: 0.939–2.208 AU (conservative: 1.189–2.094 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on TOI-3493 b
The equilibrium temperature of TOI-3493 b is about 1,102 K (829 °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. It receives 245 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on TOI-3493 b — one full orbit around TOI-3493 — lasts 8.16 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was TOI-3493 b Discovered?
TOI-3493 b was discovered in 2025 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-3493 b?
TOI-3493 b is 315.5 light-years (96.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1711. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 5,552,800 years to make the journey.
The Host Star: TOI-3493
TOI-3493
- Spectral type
- G1/2 V
- Surface temperature
- 5,844 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.02 M☉
- Radius
- 1.23 R☉
- Age
- 7.3 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
TOI-3493 b is the only planet known to orbit TOI-3493 so far.
TOI-3493 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.220 Earth radii (0.287 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 8.97 Earth masses (0.028 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 1.47 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 8.16 days |
| Equilibrium temperature | 1,102 K (829 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 245.00× Earth |
| Distance from Earth | 315.5 light-years (96.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) |
| Discovery year | 2025 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2025-04-29. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About TOI-3493 b
Is TOI-3493 b habitable?
TOI-3493 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of TOI-3493, and as a puffy low-density planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is TOI-3493 b?
TOI-3493 b is about 316 light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 5,552,800 years to get there.
How big is TOI-3493 b compared to Earth?
TOI-3493 b has 3.22 times the radius of Earth and about 9.0 times its mass.
How long is a year on TOI-3493 b?
One orbit around TOI-3493 takes 8.2 Earth days — short enough that 45 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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