HD 285968 b
HD 285968 b is a super-Earth orbiting the M2 V star HD 285968 in the constellation Taurus. It lies about 31 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2008 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 285968 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 285968 b relative to the habitable zone of HD 285968 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Temperature on HD 285968 b
The equilibrium temperature of HD 285968 b is about 450 K (177 °C) — hotter than anywhere on Earth. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 285968 b — one full orbit around HD 285968 — lasts 8.78 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.066 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was HD 285968 b Discovered?
HD 285968 b was discovered in 2008 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 285968 b?
HD 285968 b is 30.9 light-years (9.5 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1996. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 543,840 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 285968 b scores 0.42, ranking #417 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 285968
HD 285968
- Spectral type
- M2 V
- Mass
- 0.50 M☉
- Luminosity
- 0.0220 L☉
Planetary System
HD 285968 b is the only planet known to orbit HD 285968 so far.
HD 285968 b — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 8.40 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 8.78 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.066 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 450 K (177 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.42 |
| Distance from Earth | 30.9 light-years (9.5 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | La Silla Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2008 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2014-11-19. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 285968 b
Is HD 285968 b habitable?
HD 285968 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 285968, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 285968 b?
HD 285968 b is about 31 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 543,840 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 285968 b?
One orbit around HD 285968 takes 8.8 Earth days — short enough that 42 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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