Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 27, 2026

K2-3

K2-3, also known as EPIC 201367065, is a red dwarf star with three known planets. It is on the borderline of being a late orange dwarf/K-type star, but because of its temperature, it is classified as a red dwarf.

Last revised
Jun 27, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
562 w
Citations
24
Source
K2-3
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Leo1
Right ascension 11h 29m 20.39171s2
Declination −01° 27′ 17.2817″2
Apparent magnitude (V) 12.168±0.0093
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Main sequence4
Spectral type M0±0.54
Apparent magnitude (J) 9.421±0.0275
Apparent magnitude (H) 8.805±0.0445
Apparent magnitude (K) 8.561±0.0215
Variable type Planetary transit4
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)30.24±0.462 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 94.116 mas/yr2
Dec.: −78.003 mas/yr2
Parallax (π)22.7374±0.0220 mas2
Distance143.4 ± 0.1 ly
(43.98 ± 0.04 pc)
Details6
Mass0.549+0.029
−0.027
 M
Radius0.546+0.018
−0.016
 R
Luminosity (bolometric)0.0587+0.0018
−0.0019
 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.704+0.023
−0.026
 cgs
Temperature3844+61
−63
 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.157+0.075
−0.080
 dex
Rotation40±2 d7
Age6.9±4.7 Gyr
Other designations
EPIC 201367065, 2MASS J11292037-0127173, WISE J112920.45-012718.0, Gaia DR3 37966903803022142728
Database references
SIMBADdata
Exoplanet Archivedata

K2-3, also known as EPIC 201367065,8 is a red dwarf star with three known planets. It is on the borderline of being a late orange dwarf/K-type star, but because of its temperature, it is classified as a red dwarf (4,000 K is typically the division line between spectral class M and K).

At a distance of 143 light-years (44 parsecs),2 the star's proximity means it is bright enough to make it feasible for astronomers to study the planets' atmospheres to determine whether they are like Earth's atmosphere and possibly conducive to life.

Planetary system

K2-3 has three confirmed exoplanets, discovered in 2015.4 All are low-density super-Earths or sub-Neptunes, with the outermost orbiting near the inner edge of the habitable zone.96

The K2-3 planetary system610
Companion
(in order from star)
Mass Semimajor axis
(AU)
Orbital period
(days)
Eccentricity Inclination
(°)
Radius
b 5.11+0.65
−0.64
 M🜨
0.0778±0.0026 10.054626(0) <0.094 89.588+0.12
−0.100
2.078+0.076
−0.067
 R🜨
c 2.68±0.85 M🜨 0.1414±0.0047 24.646582(39) <0.095 89.905+0.066
−0.088
1.582+0.057
−0.051
 R🜨
d <1.6 M🜨 0.2097±0.0070 44.556456(97) <0.097 89.788+0.033
−0.029
1.458+0.056
−0.051
 R🜨
References

References

  1. Roman, Nancy G. (1987). "Identification of a constellation from a position". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 99 (617): 695. Bibcode:1987PASP...99..695R. doi:10.1086/132034. Constellation record for this object at VizieR.
  2. Vallenari, A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2023). "Gaia Data Release 3. Summary of the content and survey properties". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 674: A1. arXiv:2208.00211. Bibcode:2023A&A...674A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202243940. S2CID 244398875. Gaia DR3 record for this source at VizieR.
  3. Henden, A. A.; et al. (2016). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: AAVSO Photometric All Sky Survey (APASS) DR9 (Henden+, 2016)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: II/336. Originally Published in: 2015AAS...22533616H. 2336. Bibcode:2016yCat.2336....0H.Vizier catalog entry
  4. Crossfield, Ian J. M.; et al. (2015). "A Nearby M Star with Three Transiting Super-Earths Discovered by K2". The Astrophysical Journal. 804 (1) 10. arXiv:1501.03798. Bibcode:2015ApJ...804...10C. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/804/1/10.
  5. Skrutskie, M. F.; et al. (2006). "The Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS)". The Astronomical Journal. 131 (2): 1163–1183. Bibcode:2006AJ....131.1163S. doi:10.1086/498708. Vizier catalog entry
  6. Diamond-Lowe, Hannah; et al. (2022-11-01). "The K2-3 System Revisited: Testing Photoevaporation and Core-powered Mass Loss with Three Small Planets Spanning the Radius Valley". The Astronomical Journal. 164 (5) 172. arXiv:2207.12755. Bibcode:2022AJ....164..172D. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ac7807.
  7. Kosiarek, Molly R.; et al. (2019). "Bright Opportunities for Atmospheric Characterization of Small Planets: Masses and Radii of K2-3 b, c, and d and GJ3470 b from Radial Velocity Measurements and Spitzer Transits". The Astronomical Journal. 157 (3) 97. arXiv:1812.08241. Bibcode:2019AJ....157...97K. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/aaf79c. S2CID 119440420.
  8. "K2-3". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  9. Damasso, M.; et al. (2018). "Eyes on K2-3: A system of three likely sub-Neptunes characterized with HARPS-N and HARPS". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 615 A69. arXiv:1802.08320. Bibcode:2018A&A...615A..69D. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201732459.
  10. Bonomo, A. S.; et al. (2023). "Cold Jupiters and improved masses in 38 Kepler and K2 small planet systems from 3661 HARPS-N radial velocities: No excess of cold Jupiters in small planet systems". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 677 A33. arXiv:2304.05773. Bibcode:2023A&A...677A..33B. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202346211.