HD 132406 b
HD 132406 b is a cold gas giant orbiting HD 132406 in the constellation Boötes. It lies about 231 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2007 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 132406 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 132406 b relative to the habitable zone of HD 132406 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 132406 b — one full orbit around HD 132406 — lasts 908.0 Earth days, longer than an Earth year. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.25).
How Was HD 132406 b Discovered?
HD 132406 b was discovered in 2007 using the radial velocity method, with observations from Haute-Provence 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 132406 b?
HD 132406 b is 230.9 light-years (70.8 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1796. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 4,063,840 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 132406 b scores 0.35, ranking #765 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 132406
HD 132406
- Mass
- 0.97 M☉
Planetary System
HD 132406 b is the only planet known to orbit HD 132406 so far.
HD 132406 b — Complete Data
| Mass | 1,887.90 Earth masses (5.940 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 908.00 days |
| Eccentricity | 0.250 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.35 |
| Distance from Earth | 230.9 light-years (70.8 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Boötes |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | Haute-Provence Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2007 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2024-09-13. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 132406 b
Is HD 132406 b habitable?
HD 132406 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 132406, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 132406 b?
HD 132406 b is about 231 light-years from Earth in the constellation Boötes. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 4,063,840 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 132406 b?
One orbit around HD 132406 takes 908.0 Earth days.
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