HD 100546 b
The parameters of this planet are disputed or ambiguous in the scientific literature.
HD 100546 b is a cold gas giant orbiting the B9 Vne star HD 100546 in the constellation Musca. It lies about 358 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the imaging method.
How Big Is HD 100546 b?
HD 100546 b has a radius of 77.34 times that of Earth, or 6.90 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 2,702 times that of Earth.
Is HD 100546 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 100546 b relative to the habitable zone of HD 100546 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
HD 100546 b orbits at an average distance of 53.000 AU.
How Was HD 100546 b Discovered?
HD 100546 b was discovered in 2014 using the imaging method, with observations from Paranal Observatory.
Direct imaging captures actual pictures of a planet by blocking out the overwhelming glare of its host star. It works best for young, hot, massive planets on wide orbits.
How Far Away Is HD 100546 b?
HD 100546 b is 357.7 light-years (109.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1669. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 6,295,520 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. HD 100546 b scores 0.02, ranking #5,328 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 100546
HD 100546
- Spectral type
- B9 Vne
- Surface temperature
- 10,500 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 2.40 M☉
- Luminosity
- 31.6228 L☉
- Age
- 0.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
HD 100546 b is the only planet known to orbit HD 100546 so far.
HD 100546 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 77.342 Earth radii (6.900 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 2,701.54 Earth masses (8.500 Jupiter masses) |
| Orbital distance | 53.000 AU |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.02 |
| Distance from Earth | 357.7 light-years (109.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Musca |
| Discovery method | Imaging |
| Discovery facility | Paranal Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2014 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2023-12-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 100546 b
Is HD 100546 b habitable?
HD 100546 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 100546, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 100546 b?
HD 100546 b is about 358 light-years from Earth in the constellation Musca. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 6,295,520 years to get there.
How big is HD 100546 b compared to Earth?
HD 100546 b has 77.34 times the radius of Earth and about 2,702 times its mass.
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