HD 111998 b
HD 111998 b is a cold gas giant orbiting the F6 V star HD 111998 in the constellation Virgo. It lies about 108 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 111998 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 111998 b relative to the habitable zone of HD 111998 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 111998 b — one full orbit around HD 111998 — lasts 810.0 Earth days, longer than an Earth year. It orbits at an average distance of 1.910 AU. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.13).
How Was HD 111998 b Discovered?
HD 111998 b was discovered in 2016 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 HD 111998 b?
HD 111998 b is 108.4 light-years (33.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1918. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 1,907,840 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 111998 b scores 0.39, ranking #501 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 111998
HD 111998
- Spectral type
- F6 V
- Mass
- 1.40 M☉
- Age
- 1.7 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
HD 111998 b is the only planet known to orbit HD 111998 so far.
HD 111998 b — Complete Data
| Mass | 1,525.58 Earth masses (4.800 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 810.00 days |
| Orbital distance | 1.910 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.130 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.39 |
| Distance from Earth | 108.4 light-years (33.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | La Silla Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2023-09-05. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 111998 b
Is HD 111998 b habitable?
HD 111998 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 111998, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 111998 b?
HD 111998 b is about 108 light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 1,907,840 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 111998 b?
One orbit around HD 111998 takes 810.0 Earth days.
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