DH Tau b
DH Tau b is a cold gas giant orbiting the M0.5 star DH Tau in the constellation Taurus. It lies about 440 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2004 using the imaging method.
Is DH Tau b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of DH Tau b relative to the habitable zone of DH Tau cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
DH Tau b orbits at an average distance of 330.000 AU.
How Was DH Tau b Discovered?
DH Tau b was discovered in 2004 using the imaging method, with observations from Subaru Telescope.
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 DH Tau b?
DH Tau b is 439.8 light-years (134.8 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1587. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 7,740,480 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. DH Tau b scores 0.03, ranking #5,326 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: DH Tau
DH Tau
- Spectral type
- M0.5
- Mass
- 0.33 M☉
- Radius
- 0.27 R☉
- Age
- 0.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
DH Tau b is the only planet known to orbit DH Tau so far.
DH Tau b — Complete Data
| Mass | 3,496.00 Earth masses (11.000 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital distance | 330.000 AU |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.03 |
| Distance from Earth | 439.8 light-years (134.8 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Discovery method | Imaging |
| Discovery facility | Subaru Telescope |
| Discovery year | 2004 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2014-05-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About DH Tau b
Is DH Tau b habitable?
DH Tau b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of DH Tau, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is DH Tau b?
DH Tau b is about 440 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 7,740,480 years to get there.
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