HD 1461 b
HD 1461 b is a super-Earth orbiting the G0 V star HD 1461 in the constellation Cetus. It lies about 77 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2010 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 1461 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 1461 b relative to the habitable zone of HD 1461 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 1461 b — one full orbit around HD 1461 — lasts 5.77 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.063 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.17).
How Was HD 1461 b Discovered?
HD 1461 b was discovered in 2010 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 1461 b?
HD 1461 b is 76.5 light-years (23.5 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1950. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 1,346,400 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 1461 b scores 0.24, ranking #3,349 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 1461
HD 1461
- Spectral type
- G0 V
- Surface temperature
- 5,765 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.02 M☉
The HD 1461 Planetary System
HD 1461 b is one of 2 known planets in the HD 1461 system. Its siblings:
- HD 1461 c (Super Earth)
HD 1461 b — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 6.44 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 5.77 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.063 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.172 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.24 |
| Distance from Earth | 76.5 light-years (23.5 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cetus |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | W. M. Keck Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2010 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2015-11-18. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 1461 b
Is HD 1461 b habitable?
HD 1461 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 1461, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 1461 b?
HD 1461 b is about 77 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cetus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 1,346,400 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 1461 b?
One orbit around HD 1461 takes 5.8 Earth days — short enough that 63 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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