HD 11506 c
HD 11506 c is a cold gas giant orbiting the G0 V star HD 11506 in the constellation Cetus. It lies about 167 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2008 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 11506 c in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 11506 c relative to the habitable zone of HD 11506 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 11506 c — one full orbit around HD 11506 — lasts 223.9 Earth days, between the years of Mercury (88 days) and Earth (365 days). It orbits at an average distance of 0.771 AU — comparable to the inner Solar System. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.23).
How Was HD 11506 c Discovered?
HD 11506 c was discovered in 2008 using the radial velocity method, with observations from W. M. Keck 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 11506 c?
HD 11506 c is 167.2 light-years (51.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1859. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 2,942,720 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 11506 c scores 0.26, ranking #2,893 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 11506
HD 11506
- Spectral type
- G0 V
- Surface temperature
- 6,123 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.22 M☉
- Age
- 2.5 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The HD 11506 Planetary System
HD 11506 c is one of 3 known planets in the HD 11506 system. Its siblings:
- HD 11506 b (Cold Gas Giant)
- HD 11506 d
HD 11506 c — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 127.13 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 223.92 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.771 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.228 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.26 |
| Distance from Earth | 167.2 light-years (51.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cetus |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | W. M. Keck Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2008 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2024-10-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 11506 c
Is HD 11506 c habitable?
HD 11506 c is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 11506, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 11506 c?
HD 11506 c is about 167 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cetus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 2,942,720 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 11506 c?
One orbit around HD 11506 takes 223.9 Earth days.
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