GJ 2056 b
GJ 2056 b is a Neptune-like planet orbiting GJ 2056 in the constellation Canis Major. It lies about 93 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2020 using the radial velocity method.
Is GJ 2056 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of GJ 2056 b relative to the habitable zone of GJ 2056 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on GJ 2056 b — one full orbit around GJ 2056 — lasts 70.0 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.283 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical (eccentricity 0.72), swinging dramatically closer to and farther from its star.
How Was GJ 2056 b Discovered?
GJ 2056 b was discovered in 2020 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 GJ 2056 b?
GJ 2056 b is 92.8 light-years (28.4 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1934. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 1,633,280 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 2056 b scores 0.49, ranking #264 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: GJ 2056
GJ 2056
- Mass
- 0.62 M☉
Planetary System
GJ 2056 b is the only planet known to orbit GJ 2056 so far.
GJ 2056 b — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 16.20 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 69.97 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.283 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.720 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.49 |
| Distance from Earth | 92.8 light-years (28.4 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Canis Major |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | Multiple Observatories |
| Discovery year | 2020 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2020-09-08. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About GJ 2056 b
Is GJ 2056 b habitable?
GJ 2056 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of GJ 2056, and as a Neptune-like planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is GJ 2056 b?
GJ 2056 b is about 93 light-years from Earth in the constellation Canis Major. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 1,633,280 years to get there.
How long is a year on GJ 2056 b?
One orbit around GJ 2056 takes 70.0 Earth days.
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