BD+55 362 b
BD+55 362 b is a cold gas giant orbiting the K3 star BD+55 362 in the constellation Cassiopeia. It lies about 172 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2021 using the radial velocity method.
Is BD+55 362 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of BD+55 362 b relative to the habitable zone of BD+55 362 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on BD+55 362 b — one full orbit around BD+55 362 — lasts 265.6 Earth days, between the years of Mercury (88 days) and Earth (365 days). It orbits at an average distance of 0.780 AU — comparable to the inner Solar System. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.27).
How Was BD+55 362 b Discovered?
BD+55 362 b was discovered in 2021 using the radial velocity method, with observations from Haute-Provence Observatory.
The radial velocity method measures the subtle wobble of a star caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet, visible as periodic shifts in the star's light spectrum. The size of the wobble reveals the planet's minimum mass.
How Far Away Is BD+55 362 b?
BD+55 362 b is 171.5 light-years (52.6 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1855. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 3,018,400 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. BD+55 362 b scores 0.38, ranking #554 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: BD+55 362
BD+55 362
- Spectral type
- K3
- Surface temperature
- 5,012 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.91 M☉
Planetary System
BD+55 362 b is the only planet known to orbit BD+55 362 so far.
BD+55 362 b — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 228.84 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 265.59 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.780 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.270 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.38 |
| Distance from Earth | 171.5 light-years (52.6 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cassiopeia |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | Haute-Provence Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2021 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2021-05-28. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About BD+55 362 b
Is BD+55 362 b habitable?
BD+55 362 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of BD+55 362, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is BD+55 362 b?
BD+55 362 b is about 172 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cassiopeia. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 3,018,400 years to get there.
How long is a year on BD+55 362 b?
One orbit around BD+55 362 takes 265.6 Earth days.
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