HD 60779 b
HD 60779 b is a sub-Neptune orbiting the G1 V star HD 60779 in the constellation Monoceros. It lies about 116 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2026 using the transit method.
How Big Is HD 60779 b?
HD 60779 b has a radius of 3.25 times that of Earth. Its mass is 14.2 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 2.28 g/cm³ — between that of rocky and gaseous planets.
Is HD 60779 b in the Habitable Zone?
HD 60779 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of HD 60779. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of HD 60779: 0.922–2.156 AU (conservative: 1.168–2.045 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on HD 60779 b
The equilibrium temperature of HD 60779 b is about 650 K (377 °C) — hot enough to melt many metals. 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 60779 b — one full orbit around HD 60779 — lasts 30.0 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.192 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is nearly circular (eccentricity 0.031).
How Was HD 60779 b Discovered?
HD 60779 b was discovered in 2026 using the transit method, with observations from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
The transit method watches a star for the tiny, regular dip in brightness that occurs when a planet crosses in front of it. The depth and timing of these dips reveal the planet's size and orbital period.
How Far Away Is HD 60779 b?
HD 60779 b is 115.6 light-years (35.4 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1911. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 2,034,560 years to make the journey.
The Host Star: HD 60779
HD 60779
- Spectral type
- G1 V
- Surface temperature
- 6,081 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.05 M☉
- Radius
- 1.13 R☉
- Luminosity
- 1.5660 L☉
The HD 60779 Planetary System
HD 60779 b is one of 2 known planets in the HD 60779 system. Its siblings:
- HD 60779 c (Neptune-like)
HD 60779 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.246 Earth radii (0.290 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 14.19 Earth masses (0.045 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 2.28 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 29.99 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.192 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.031 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 650 K (377 °C) |
| Distance from Earth | 115.6 light-years (35.4 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Monoceros |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) |
| Discovery year | 2026 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2026-08-06. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 60779 b
Is HD 60779 b habitable?
No — HD 60779 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is HD 60779 b?
HD 60779 b is about 116 light-years from Earth in the constellation Monoceros. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 2,034,560 years to get there.
How big is HD 60779 b compared to Earth?
HD 60779 b has 3.25 times the radius of Earth and about 14.2 times its mass.
How long is a year on HD 60779 b?
One orbit around HD 60779 takes 30.0 Earth days — short enough that 12 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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