HD 32963 b
HD 32963 b is a cold gas giant orbiting HD 32963 in the constellation Taurus. It lies about 124 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2015 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 32963 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 32963 b relative to the habitable zone of HD 32963 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 32963 b — one full orbit around HD 32963 — lasts 2,372.0 Earth days, longer than an Earth year. It orbits at an average distance of 3.410 AU. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.07).
How Was HD 32963 b Discovered?
HD 32963 b was discovered in 2015 using the radial velocity method, with observations from W. M. Keck 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 32963 b?
HD 32963 b is 124.2 light-years (38.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1902. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 2,185,920 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 32963 b scores 0.16, ranking #4,145 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 32963
HD 32963
- Surface temperature
- 5,727 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.94 M☉
- Age
- 5.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
HD 32963 b is the only planet known to orbit HD 32963 so far.
HD 32963 b — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 222.48 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 2,372.00 days |
| Orbital distance | 3.410 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.070 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.16 |
| Distance from Earth | 124.2 light-years (38.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | W. M. Keck Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2015 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2015-12-24. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 32963 b
Is HD 32963 b habitable?
HD 32963 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 32963, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 32963 b?
HD 32963 b is about 124 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 2,185,920 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 32963 b?
One orbit around HD 32963 takes 2,372.0 Earth days.
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