HD 122562 c
HD 122562 c is a cold gas giant orbiting HD 122562 in the constellation Boötes. It lies about 174 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2022 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 122562 c in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 122562 c relative to the habitable zone of HD 122562 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 122562 c — one full orbit around HD 122562 — lasts 85.0 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.406 AU — comparable to the inner Solar System. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.23).
How Was HD 122562 c Discovered?
HD 122562 c was discovered in 2022 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 HD 122562 c?
HD 122562 c is 173.7 light-years (53.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1853. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 3,057,120 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 122562 c scores 0.15, ranking #4,215 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 122562
HD 122562
- Mass
- 1.24 M☉
Planetary System
HD 122562 c is the only planet known to orbit HD 122562 so far.
HD 122562 c — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 73.10 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 84.96 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.406 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.228 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.15 |
| Distance from Earth | 173.7 light-years (53.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Boötes |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | Multiple Observatories |
| Discovery year | 2022 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2023-06-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 122562 c
Is HD 122562 c habitable?
HD 122562 c is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 122562, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 122562 c?
HD 122562 c is about 174 light-years from Earth in the constellation Boötes. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 3,057,120 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 122562 c?
One orbit around HD 122562 takes 85.0 Earth days.
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