HD 16417 b
HD 16417 b is a Neptune-like planet orbiting the G1 V star HD 16417 in the constellation Fornax. It lies about 83 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2008 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 16417 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 16417 b relative to the habitable zone of HD 16417 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 16417 b — one full orbit around HD 16417 — lasts 17.2 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.140 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.20).
How Was HD 16417 b Discovered?
HD 16417 b was discovered in 2008 using the radial velocity method, with observations from Anglo-Australian Telescope.
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 16417 b?
HD 16417 b is 82.8 light-years (25.4 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1944. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 1,457,280 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 16417 b scores 0.16, ranking #4,158 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 16417
HD 16417 b belongs to a system of 2 stars; it orbits HD 16417.
HD 16417
- Spectral type
- G1 V
- Mass
- 1.20 M☉
Planetary System
HD 16417 b is the only planet known to orbit HD 16417 so far.
HD 16417 b — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 22.10 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 17.24 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.140 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.200 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.16 |
| Distance from Earth | 82.8 light-years (25.4 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Fornax |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | Anglo-Australian Telescope |
| Discovery year | 2008 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2019-01-28. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 16417 b
Is HD 16417 b habitable?
HD 16417 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 16417, and as a Neptune-like planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 16417 b?
HD 16417 b is about 83 light-years from Earth in the constellation Fornax. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 1,457,280 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 16417 b?
One orbit around HD 16417 takes 17.2 Earth days — short enough that 21 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
Explore HD 16417 b in the app
Browse, filter and compare 6,000+ exoplanets on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch — with habitable-zone views, widgets and offline data.
