TOI-815 c
TOI-815 c is a super-Earth orbiting the K3 V star TOI-815 in the constellation Vela. It lies about 195 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2024 using the transit method.
How Big Is TOI-815 c?
TOI-815 c has a radius of 2.62 times that of Earth. Its mass is 23.5 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 7.20 g/cm³ — comparable to rocky planets like Earth (5.51 g/cm³).
Is TOI-815 c in the Habitable Zone?
TOI-815 c orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of TOI-815. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of TOI-815: 0.431–1.047 AU (conservative: 0.546–0.993 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-815 c
The equilibrium temperature of TOI-815 c is about 469 K (196 °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 8.03 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on TOI-815 c — one full orbit around TOI-815 — lasts 35.0 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.193 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.22).
How Was TOI-815 c Discovered?
TOI-815 c 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-815 c?
TOI-815 c is 194.8 light-years (59.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1832. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 3,428,480 years to make the journey.
The Host Star: TOI-815
TOI-815 c belongs to a system of 2 stars; it orbits TOI-815.
TOI-815
- Spectral type
- K3 V
- Surface temperature
- 4,869 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.78 M☉
- Radius
- 0.77 R☉
- Age
- 0.2 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The TOI-815 Planetary System
TOI-815 c is one of 2 known planets in the TOI-815 system. Its siblings:
- TOI-815 b (Mini Neptune)
TOI-815 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.620 Earth radii (0.234 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 23.50 Earth masses (0.074 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 7.20 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 34.98 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.193 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.220 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 469 K (196 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 8.03× Earth |
| Distance from Earth | 194.8 light-years (59.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Vela |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) |
| Discovery year | 2024 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2024-05-13. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About TOI-815 c
Is TOI-815 c habitable?
No — TOI-815 c orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is TOI-815 c?
TOI-815 c is about 195 light-years from Earth in the constellation Vela. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 3,428,480 years to get there.
How big is TOI-815 c compared to Earth?
TOI-815 c has 2.62 times the radius of Earth and about 23.5 times its mass.
How long is a year on TOI-815 c?
One orbit around TOI-815 takes 35.0 Earth days — short enough that 10 of its years would fit into one Earth year.