CoRoT-22 b
CoRoT-22 b is a Neptune-like planet orbiting the G3 V star CoRoT-22 in the constellation Serpens. It lies about 2,046 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the transit method.
How Big Is CoRoT-22 b?
CoRoT-22 b has a radius of 4.88 times that of Earth. Its mass is 12.2 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 0.25 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is CoRoT-22 b in the Habitable Zone?
CoRoT-22 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of CoRoT-22. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of CoRoT-22: 0.892–2.093 AU (conservative: 1.130–1.984 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on CoRoT-22 b
The equilibrium temperature of CoRoT-22 b is about 885 K (612 °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.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on CoRoT-22 b — one full orbit around CoRoT-22 — lasts 9.76 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.092 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.08).
How Was CoRoT-22 b Discovered?
CoRoT-22 b was discovered in 2014 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-22 b?
CoRoT-22 b is 2,045.5 light-years (627.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,046 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 36,000,800 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-22 b scores 0.16, ranking #4,130 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: CoRoT-22
CoRoT-22
- Spectral type
- G3 V
- Surface temperature
- 5,939 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.10 M☉
- Radius
- 1.14 R☉
- Age
- 3.3 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
CoRoT-22 b is the only planet known to orbit CoRoT-22 so far.
CoRoT-22 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 4.880 Earth radii (0.435 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 12.20 Earth masses (0.038 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 0.25 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 9.76 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.092 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.077 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 885 K (612 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.16 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,045.5 light-years (627.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Serpens |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | CoRoT |
| Discovery year | 2014 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2014-08-21. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About CoRoT-22 b
Is CoRoT-22 b habitable?
No — CoRoT-22 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is CoRoT-22 b?
CoRoT-22 b is about 2,046 light-years from Earth in the constellation Serpens. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 36,000,800 years to get there.
How big is CoRoT-22 b compared to Earth?
CoRoT-22 b has 4.88 times the radius of Earth and about 12.2 times its mass.
How long is a year on CoRoT-22 b?
One orbit around CoRoT-22 takes 9.8 Earth days — short enough that 37 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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