CoRoT-7 c
CoRoT-7 c is a super-Earth orbiting the G9 V star CoRoT-7 in the constellation Monoceros. It lies about 522 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2009 using the radial velocity method.
Is CoRoT-7 c in the Habitable Zone?
The position of CoRoT-7 c relative to the habitable zone of CoRoT-7 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on CoRoT-7 c — one full orbit around CoRoT-7 — lasts 3.70 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.046 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was CoRoT-7 c Discovered?
CoRoT-7 c was discovered in 2009 using the radial velocity method, with observations from CoRoT.
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 CoRoT-7 c?
CoRoT-7 c is 521.5 light-years (159.9 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1505. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 9,178,400 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. CoRoT-7 c scores 0.22, ranking #3,629 of 5,565 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: CoRoT-7
CoRoT-7
- Spectral type
- G9 V
- Surface temperature
- 5,250 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.92 M☉
- Age
- 1.8 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The CoRoT-7 Planetary System
CoRoT-7 c is one of 3 known planets in the CoRoT-7 system. Its siblings:
CoRoT-7 c — Complete Data
| Mass | 8.40 Earth masses (0.026 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 3.70 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.046 AU |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.22 |
| Distance from Earth | 521.5 light-years (159.9 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Monoceros |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | CoRoT |
| Discovery year | 2009 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2015-09-08. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About CoRoT-7 c
Is CoRoT-7 c habitable?
CoRoT-7 c is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of CoRoT-7, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is CoRoT-7 c?
CoRoT-7 c is about 522 light-years from Earth in the constellation Monoceros. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 9,178,400 years to get there.
How long is a year on CoRoT-7 c?
One orbit around CoRoT-7 takes 3.7 Earth days — short enough that 99 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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