HD 73256 c
HD 73256 c is a exoplanet orbiting the G8 IV star HD 73256 in the constellation Pyxis. It lies about 120 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2023 using the radial velocity method.
Is HD 73256 c in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HD 73256 c relative to the habitable zone of HD 73256 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HD 73256 c — one full orbit around HD 73256 — lasts 2,690.0 Earth days, longer than an Earth year. It orbits at an average distance of 3.800 AU. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.16).
How Was HD 73256 c Discovered?
HD 73256 c was discovered in 2023 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 73256 c?
HD 73256 c is 119.7 light-years (36.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1907. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 2,106,720 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 73256 c scores 0.12, ranking #4,312 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HD 73256
HD 73256
- Spectral type
- G8 IV
- Mass
- 1.00 M☉
- Age
- 2.2 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
HD 73256 c is the only planet known to orbit HD 73256 so far.
HD 73256 c — Complete Data
| Mass | 5,085.25 Earth masses (16.000 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 2,690.00 days |
| Orbital distance | 3.800 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.160 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.12 |
| Distance from Earth | 119.7 light-years (36.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Pyxis |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | La Silla Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2023 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2023-09-05. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HD 73256 c
Is HD 73256 c habitable?
HD 73256 c is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HD 73256.
How far away is HD 73256 c?
HD 73256 c is about 120 light-years from Earth in the constellation Pyxis. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 2,106,720 years to get there.
How long is a year on HD 73256 c?
One orbit around HD 73256 takes 2,690.0 Earth days.
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