HIP 79431 b
HIP 79431 b is a cold gas giant orbiting the M3 V star HIP 79431 in the constellation Scorpius. It lies about 47 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2009 using the radial velocity method.
Is HIP 79431 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of HIP 79431 b relative to the habitable zone of HIP 79431 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on HIP 79431 b — one full orbit around HIP 79431 — lasts 111.7 Earth days, between the years of Mercury (88 days) and Earth (365 days). It orbits at an average distance of 0.360 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.29).
How Was HIP 79431 b Discovered?
HIP 79431 b was discovered in 2009 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 HIP 79431 b?
HIP 79431 b is 47.4 light-years (14.5 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1979. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 834,240 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. HIP 79431 b scores 0.25, ranking #3,188 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: HIP 79431
HIP 79431
- Spectral type
- M3 V
- Surface temperature
- 3,191 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.49 M☉
Planetary System
HIP 79431 b is the only planet known to orbit HIP 79431 so far.
HIP 79431 b — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 667.42 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 111.70 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.360 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.290 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.25 |
| Distance from Earth | 47.4 light-years (14.5 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Scorpius |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | W. M. Keck Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2009 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2019-01-28. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About HIP 79431 b
Is HIP 79431 b habitable?
HIP 79431 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of HIP 79431, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is HIP 79431 b?
HIP 79431 b is about 47 light-years from Earth in the constellation Scorpius. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 834,240 years to get there.
How long is a year on HIP 79431 b?
One orbit around HIP 79431 takes 111.7 Earth days.
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