HD 140901 b
The parameters of this planet are disputed or ambiguous in the scientific literature.
HD 140901 b is a Neptune-like planet orbiting HD 140901 in the constellation Lupus. It lies about 50 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2022 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 140901 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 140901 b relative to the habitable zone of HD 140901 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 140901 b — one full orbit around HD 140901 — lasts 9.02 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.085 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical (eccentricity 0.47), swinging dramatically closer to and farther from its star.
How Was HD 140901 b Discovered?
HD 140901 b 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 140901 b?
HD 140901 b is 49.7 light-years (15.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1977. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 874,720 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 140901 b scores 0.18, ranking #4,021 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 140901
HD 140901
- Mass
- 0.99 M☉
The HD 140901 Planetary System
HD 140901 b is one of 2 known planets in the HD 140901 system. Its siblings:
- HD 140901 c (Cold Gas Giant)
HD 140901 b — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 15.57 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 9.02 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.085 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.472 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.18 |
| Distance from Earth | 49.7 light-years (15.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lupus |
| 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 140901 b
Is HD 140901 b habitable?
HD 140901 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 140901, and as a Neptune-like planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 140901 b?
HD 140901 b is about 50 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lupus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 874,720 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 140901 b?
One orbit around HD 140901 takes 9.0 Earth days — short enough that 40 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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