HD 211970 b
HD 211970 b is a Neptune-like planet orbiting the K7 V star HD 211970 in the constellation Grus. It lies about 43 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2019 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 211970 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 211970 b relative to the habitable zone of HD 211970 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 211970 b — one full orbit around HD 211970 — lasts 25.2 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.143 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.15).
How Was HD 211970 b Discovered?
HD 211970 b was discovered in 2019 using the radial velocity method, with observations from Las Campanas 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 211970 b?
HD 211970 b is 42.8 light-years (13.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1984. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 753,280 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 211970 b scores 0.40, ranking #454 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 211970
HD 211970
- Spectral type
- K7 V
- Surface temperature
- 4,127 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.61 M☉
Planetary System
HD 211970 b is the only planet known to orbit HD 211970 so far.
HD 211970 b — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 13.00 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 25.20 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.143 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.150 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.40 |
| Distance from Earth | 42.8 light-years (13.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Grus |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | Las Campanas Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2019 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2019-05-20. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 211970 b
Is HD 211970 b habitable?
HD 211970 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 211970, and as a Neptune-like planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 211970 b?
HD 211970 b is about 43 light-years from Earth in the constellation Grus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 753,280 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 211970 b?
One orbit around HD 211970 takes 25.2 Earth days — short enough that 14 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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