GJ 163 c
GJ 163 c is a super-Earth orbiting GJ 163 in the constellation Dorado. It lies about 49 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2013 using the radial velocity method.
Is GJ 163 c in the Habitable Zone?
The position of GJ 163 c relative to the habitable zone of GJ 163 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on GJ 163 c — one full orbit around GJ 163 — lasts 25.6 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.125 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.10).
How Was GJ 163 c Discovered?
GJ 163 c was discovered in 2013 using the radial velocity method, with observations from La Silla 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 GJ 163 c?
GJ 163 c is 49.3 light-years (15.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1977. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 867,680 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. GJ 163 c scores 0.69, ranking #67 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: GJ 163
GJ 163
The GJ 163 Planetary System
GJ 163 c is one of 3 known planets in the GJ 163 system. Its siblings:
GJ 163 c — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 6.80 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 25.63 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.125 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.099 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.69 |
| Distance from Earth | 49.3 light-years (15.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Dorado |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | La Silla Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2013 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2017-01-24. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About GJ 163 c
Is GJ 163 c habitable?
GJ 163 c is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of GJ 163, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is GJ 163 c?
GJ 163 c is about 49 light-years from Earth in the constellation Dorado. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 867,680 years to get there.
How long is a year on GJ 163 c?
One orbit around GJ 163 takes 25.6 Earth days — short enough that 14 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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