TOI-969 b
TOI-969 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting the K V star TOI-969 in the constellation Canis Minor. It lies about 252 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2022 using the transit method.
How Big Is TOI-969 b?
TOI-969 b has a radius of 2.77 times that of Earth. Its mass is 9.1 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 2.34 g/cm³ — between that of rocky and gaseous planets.
Is TOI-969 b in the Habitable Zone?
TOI-969 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of TOI-969. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of TOI-969: 0.317–0.785 AU (conservative: 0.401–0.744 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on TOI-969 b
The equilibrium temperature of TOI-969 b is about 941 K (668 °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 188 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on TOI-969 b — one full orbit around TOI-969 — lasts just 43.8 hours, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.026 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was TOI-969 b Discovered?
TOI-969 b was discovered in 2022 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-969 b?
TOI-969 b is 252.0 light-years (77.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1774. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 4,435,200 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-969 b scores 0.22, ranking #3,603 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: TOI-969
TOI-969
- Spectral type
- K V
- Surface temperature
- 4,435 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.73 M☉
- Radius
- 0.67 R☉
- Age
- 2.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The TOI-969 Planetary System
TOI-969 b is one of 2 known planets in the TOI-969 system. Its siblings:
- TOI-969 c (Cold Gas Giant)
TOI-969 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.765 Earth radii (0.247 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 9.10 Earth masses (0.029 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 2.34 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 1.82 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.026 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 941 K (668 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 188.00× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.22 |
| Distance from Earth | 252.0 light-years (77.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Canis Minor |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) |
| Discovery year | 2022 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2022-10-31. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About TOI-969 b
Is TOI-969 b habitable?
No — TOI-969 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is TOI-969 b?
TOI-969 b is about 252 light-years from Earth in the constellation Canis Minor. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 4,435,200 years to get there.
How big is TOI-969 b compared to Earth?
TOI-969 b has 2.77 times the radius of Earth and about 9.1 times its mass.
How long is a year on TOI-969 b?
One orbit around TOI-969 takes 1.8 Earth days — short enough that 200 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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