eps Eri b
eps Eri b is a cold gas giant orbiting the K2 V star eps Eri in the constellation Eridanus. It lies about 10 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2000 using the radial velocity method.
Is eps Eri b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of eps Eri b relative to the habitable zone of eps Eri cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on eps Eri b — one full orbit around eps Eri — lasts 2,671.0 Earth days, longer than an Earth year. It orbits at an average distance of 3.530 AU. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.07).
How Was eps Eri b Discovered?
eps Eri b was discovered in 2000 using the radial velocity method, with observations from Multiple Observatories.
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 eps Eri b?
eps Eri b is 10.4 light-years (3.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 2016. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 183,040 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. eps Eri b scores 0.10, ranking #4,479 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: eps Eri
eps Eri
- Spectral type
- K2 V
- Mass
- 0.82 M☉
- Age
- 0.6 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
eps Eri b is the only planet known to orbit eps Eri so far.
eps Eri b — Complete Data
| Mass | 209.77 Earth masses (0.660 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 2,671.00 days |
| Orbital distance | 3.530 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.070 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.10 |
| Distance from Earth | 10.4 light-years (3.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Eridanus |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | Multiple Observatories |
| Discovery year | 2000 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2022-07-18. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About eps Eri b
Is eps Eri b habitable?
eps Eri b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of eps Eri, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is eps Eri b?
eps Eri b is about 10 light-years from Earth in the constellation Eridanus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 183,040 years to get there.
How long is a year on eps Eri b?
One orbit around eps Eri takes 2,671.0 Earth days.
Explore eps Eri b in the app
Browse, filter and compare 6,000+ exoplanets on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch — with habitable-zone views, widgets and offline data.
