HD 37124 b
HD 37124 b is a cold gas giant orbiting the G4 V star HD 37124 in the constellation Taurus. It lies about 103 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2002 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 37124 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 37124 b relative to the habitable zone of HD 37124 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 37124 b — one full orbit around HD 37124 — lasts 154.4 Earth days, between the years of Mercury (88 days) and Earth (365 days). It orbits at an average distance of 0.534 AU — comparable to the inner Solar System. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.05).
How Was HD 37124 b Discovered?
HD 37124 b was discovered in 2002 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 37124 b?
HD 37124 b is 103.3 light-years (31.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1923. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 1,818,080 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 37124 b scores 0.31, ranking #1,237 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 37124
HD 37124
- Spectral type
- G4 V
- Mass
- 0.85 M☉
The HD 37124 Planetary System
HD 37124 b is one of 3 known planets in the HD 37124 system. Its siblings:
- HD 37124 c (Cold Gas Giant)
- HD 37124 d (Cold Gas Giant)
HD 37124 b — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 214.54 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 154.38 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.534 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.054 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.31 |
| Distance from Earth | 103.3 light-years (31.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | W. M. Keck Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2002 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-09-06. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 37124 b
Is HD 37124 b habitable?
HD 37124 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 37124, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HD 37124 b?
HD 37124 b is about 103 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 1,818,080 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 37124 b?
One orbit around HD 37124 takes 154.4 Earth days.
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