HD 196050 b
HD 196050 b is a cold gas giant orbiting the G3 V star HD 196050 in the constellation Pavo. It lies about 165 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2002 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 196050 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 196050 b relative to the habitable zone of HD 196050 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 196050 b — one full orbit around HD 196050 — lasts 1,392.0 Earth days, longer than an Earth year. It orbits at an average distance of 2.650 AU. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.20).
How Was HD 196050 b Discovered?
HD 196050 b was discovered in 2002 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 196050 b?
HD 196050 b is 165.3 light-years (50.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1861. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 2,909,280 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 196050 b scores 0.27, ranking #2,667 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 196050
HD 196050 b belongs to a system of 3 stars; it orbits HD 196050.
HD 196050
- Spectral type
- G3 V
- Mass
- 1.27 M☉
- Age
- 4.3 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
HD 196050 b is the only planet known to orbit HD 196050 so far.
HD 196050 b — Complete Data
| Mass | 1,493.79 Earth masses (4.700 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 1,392.00 days |
| Orbital distance | 2.650 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.200 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.27 |
| Distance from Earth | 165.3 light-years (50.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Pavo |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | Anglo-Australian Telescope |
| Discovery year | 2002 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2023-09-05. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 196050 b
Is HD 196050 b habitable?
HD 196050 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 196050, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 196050 b?
HD 196050 b is about 165 light-years from Earth in the constellation Pavo. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 2,909,280 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 196050 b?
One orbit around HD 196050 takes 1,392.0 Earth days.
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