G 264-012 c
G 264-012 c is a super-Earth orbiting the M4.0 V star G 264-012 in the constellation Cepheus. It lies about 52 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2021 using the radial velocity method.
Is G 264-012 c in the Habitable Zone?
G 264-012 c orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of G 264-012. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of G 264-012: 0.085–0.221 AU (conservative: 0.107–0.210 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on G 264-012 c
The equilibrium temperature of G 264-012 c is about 387 K (114 °C) — hotter than anywhere on Earth. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C. It receives 3.87 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on G 264-012 c — one full orbit around G 264-012 — lasts 8.05 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.053 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was G 264-012 c Discovered?
G 264-012 c was discovered in 2021 using the radial velocity method, with observations from Calar Alto Observatory.
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 G 264-012 c?
G 264-012 c is 52.2 light-years (16.0 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1974. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 918,720 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. G 264-012 c scores 0.54, ranking #202 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: G 264-012
G 264-012
- Spectral type
- M4.0 V
- Surface temperature
- 3,326 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.30 M☉
- Radius
- 0.31 R☉
- Luminosity
- 0.0107 L☉
The G 264-012 Planetary System
G 264-012 c is one of 2 known planets in the G 264-012 system. Its siblings:
- G 264-012 b (Super Earth)
G 264-012 c — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 3.75 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 8.05 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.053 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 387 K (114 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 3.87× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.54 |
| Distance from Earth | 52.2 light-years (16.0 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cepheus |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | Calar Alto Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2021 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2021-07-12. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About G 264-012 c
Is G 264-012 c habitable?
No — G 264-012 c orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is G 264-012 c?
G 264-012 c is about 52 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cepheus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 918,720 years to get there.
How long is a year on G 264-012 c?
One orbit around G 264-012 takes 8.1 Earth days — short enough that 45 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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