DS Tuc A b
DS Tuc A b is a Neptune-like planet orbiting the G6 V star DS Tuc A in the constellation Tucana. It lies about 144 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2019 using the transit method.
How Big Is DS Tuc A b?
DS Tuc A b has a radius of 5.70 times that of Earth, or 0.51 times the radius of Jupiter.
Is DS Tuc A b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of DS Tuc A b relative to the habitable zone of DS Tuc A cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of DS Tuc A: 0.652–1.553 AU (conservative: 0.826–1.472 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on DS Tuc A b
The equilibrium temperature of DS Tuc A b is about 850 K (577 °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 DS Tuc A b — one full orbit around DS Tuc A — lasts 8.14 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was DS Tuc A b Discovered?
DS Tuc A b was discovered in 2019 using the transit method, with observations from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
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 DS Tuc A b?
DS Tuc A b is 143.7 light-years (44.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1883. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 2,529,120 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. DS Tuc A b scores 0.15, ranking #4,229 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: DS Tuc A
DS Tuc A b belongs to a system of 2 stars; it orbits DS Tuc A.
DS Tuc A
- Spectral type
- G6 V
- Surface temperature
- 5,428 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.01 M☉
- Radius
- 0.96 R☉
- Luminosity
- 0.7250 L☉
- Age
- 0.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
DS Tuc A b is the only planet known to orbit DS Tuc A so far.
DS Tuc A b — Complete Data
| Radius | 5.700 Earth radii (0.509 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 8.14 days |
| Equilibrium temperature | 850 K (577 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.15 |
| Distance from Earth | 143.7 light-years (44.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Tucana |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) |
| Discovery year | 2019 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2019-07-03. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About DS Tuc A b
Is DS Tuc A b habitable?
DS Tuc A b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of DS Tuc A, and as a Neptune-like planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is DS Tuc A b?
DS Tuc A b is about 144 light-years from Earth in the constellation Tucana. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 2,529,120 years to get there.
How big is DS Tuc A b compared to Earth?
DS Tuc A b has 5.70 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on DS Tuc A b?
One orbit around DS Tuc A takes 8.1 Earth days — short enough that 45 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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