AF Lep b
AF Lep b is a cold gas giant orbiting the F8 star AF Lep in the constellation Lepus. It lies about 88 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2023 using the imaging method.
Is AF Lep b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of AF Lep b relative to the habitable zone of AF Lep cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on AF Lep b — one full orbit around AF Lep — lasts 8,905.0 Earth days, longer than Jupiter's 12-year orbit. It orbits at an average distance of 8.996 AU. Its orbit is nearly circular (eccentricity 0.015).
How Was AF Lep b Discovered?
AF Lep b was discovered in 2023 using the imaging method, with observations from Paranal Observatory.
Direct imaging captures actual pictures of a planet by blocking out the overwhelming glare of its host star. It works best for young, hot, massive planets on wide orbits.
How Far Away Is AF Lep b?
AF Lep b is 87.6 light-years (26.9 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1939. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 1,541,760 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. AF Lep b scores 0.10, ranking #4,452 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: AF Lep
AF Lep
- Spectral type
- F8
- Mass
- 1.22 M☉
Planetary System
AF Lep b is the only planet known to orbit AF Lep so far.
AF Lep b — Complete Data
| Mass | 1,147.36 Earth masses (3.610 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 8,905.00 days |
| Orbital distance | 8.996 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.015 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.10 |
| Distance from Earth | 87.6 light-years (26.9 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lepus |
| Discovery method | Imaging |
| Discovery facility | Paranal Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2023 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2025-11-20. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About AF Lep b
Is AF Lep b habitable?
AF Lep b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of AF Lep, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is AF Lep b?
AF Lep b is about 88 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lepus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 1,541,760 years to get there.
How long is a year on AF Lep b?
One orbit around AF Lep takes 8,905.0 Earth days.
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