HD 106252 b
HD 106252 b is a cold gas giant orbiting the G0 star HD 106252 in the constellation Virgo. It lies about 125 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2002 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 106252 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 106252 b relative to the habitable zone of HD 106252 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 106252 b — one full orbit around HD 106252 — lasts 1,535.0 Earth days, longer than an Earth year. It orbits at an average distance of 2.655 AU. Its orbit is highly elliptical (eccentricity 0.48), swinging dramatically closer to and farther from its star.
How Was HD 106252 b Discovered?
HD 106252 b was discovered in 2002 using the radial velocity method, with observations from Lick 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 HD 106252 b?
HD 106252 b is 124.5 light-years (38.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1902. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 2,191,200 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 106252 b scores 0.25, ranking #3,147 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 106252
HD 106252
- Spectral type
- G0
- Mass
- 1.05 M☉
- Luminosity
- 1.3280 L☉
- Age
- 3.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
HD 106252 b is the only planet known to orbit HD 106252 so far.
HD 106252 b — Complete Data
| Mass | 3,178.28 Earth masses (10.000 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 1,535.00 days |
| Orbital distance | 2.655 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.480 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.25 |
| Distance from Earth | 124.5 light-years (38.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | Lick Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2002 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2022-06-27. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 106252 b
Is HD 106252 b habitable?
HD 106252 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 106252, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 106252 b?
HD 106252 b is about 125 light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 2,191,200 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 106252 b?
One orbit around HD 106252 takes 1,535.0 Earth days.
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