CoRoT-20 b
CoRoT-20 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting CoRoT-20 in the constellation Monoceros. It lies about 2,753 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2011 using the transit method.
Is CoRoT-20 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of CoRoT-20 b relative to the habitable zone of CoRoT-20 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on CoRoT-20 b — one full orbit around CoRoT-20 — lasts 9.24 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.090 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical (eccentricity 0.59), swinging dramatically closer to and farther from its star.
How Was CoRoT-20 b Discovered?
CoRoT-20 b was discovered in 2011 using the transit method, with observations from CoRoT.
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 CoRoT-20 b?
CoRoT-20 b is 2,753.0 light-years (844.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,753 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 48,452,800 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. CoRoT-20 b scores 0.10, ranking #4,474 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: CoRoT-20
CoRoT-20
- Mass
- 1.14 M☉
The CoRoT-20 Planetary System
CoRoT-20 b is one of 2 known planets in the CoRoT-20 system. Its siblings:
CoRoT-20 b — Complete Data
| Mass | 1,366.67 Earth masses (4.300 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 9.24 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.090 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.590 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.10 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,753.0 light-years (844.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Monoceros |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | CoRoT |
| Discovery year | 2011 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2018-07-18. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About CoRoT-20 b
Is CoRoT-20 b habitable?
CoRoT-20 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of CoRoT-20, and as a hot Jupiter it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is CoRoT-20 b?
CoRoT-20 b is about 2,753 light-years from Earth in the constellation Monoceros. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 48,452,800 years to get there.
How long is a year on CoRoT-20 b?
One orbit around CoRoT-20 takes 9.2 Earth days — short enough that 40 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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