HD 19994 b
HD 19994 b is a cold gas giant orbiting the F8 V star HD 19994 in the constellation Cetus. It lies about 74 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2003 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 19994 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 19994 b relative to the habitable zone of HD 19994 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 19994 b — one full orbit around HD 19994 — lasts 466.2 Earth days, longer than an Earth year. It orbits at an average distance of 1.305 AU. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.06).
How Was HD 19994 b Discovered?
HD 19994 b was discovered in 2003 using the radial velocity method, with observations from La Silla 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 19994 b?
HD 19994 b is 73.5 light-years (22.5 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1953. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 1,293,600 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 19994 b scores 0.33, ranking #909 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 19994
HD 19994 b belongs to a system of 3 stars; it orbits HD 19994.
HD 19994
- Spectral type
- F8 V
- Surface temperature
- 6,188 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.37 M☉
Planetary System
HD 19994 b is the only planet known to orbit HD 19994 so far.
HD 19994 b — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 435.41 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 466.20 days |
| Orbital distance | 1.305 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.063 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.33 |
| Distance from Earth | 73.5 light-years (22.5 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cetus |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | La Silla Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2003 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2014-05-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 19994 b
Is HD 19994 b habitable?
HD 19994 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 19994, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 19994 b?
HD 19994 b is about 74 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cetus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 1,293,600 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 19994 b?
One orbit around HD 19994 takes 466.2 Earth days.
Explore HD 19994 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.
