IC 4651 9122 b
The parameters of this planet are disputed or ambiguous in the scientific literature.
IC 4651 9122 b is a cold gas giant orbiting IC 4651 9122 in the constellation Ara. It lies about 2,803 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2018 using the radial velocity method.
Is IC 4651 9122 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of IC 4651 9122 b relative to the habitable zone of IC 4651 9122 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on IC 4651 9122 b — one full orbit around IC 4651 9122 — lasts 734.0 Earth days, longer than an Earth year. It orbits at an average distance of 2.038 AU. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.18).
How Was IC 4651 9122 b Discovered?
IC 4651 9122 b was discovered in 2018 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 IC 4651 9122 b?
IC 4651 9122 b is 2,802.7 light-years (859.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,803 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 49,327,520 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. IC 4651 9122 b scores 0.16, ranking #4,153 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: IC 4651 9122
IC 4651 9122
- Mass
- 2.10 M☉
- Age
- 1.1 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
IC 4651 9122 b is the only planet known to orbit IC 4651 9122 so far.
IC 4651 9122 b — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 2,002.33 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 734.00 days |
| Orbital distance | 2.038 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.180 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.16 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,802.7 light-years (859.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Ara |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | La Silla Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2018 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2018-07-18. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About IC 4651 9122 b
Is IC 4651 9122 b habitable?
IC 4651 9122 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of IC 4651 9122, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is IC 4651 9122 b?
IC 4651 9122 b is about 2,803 light-years from Earth in the constellation Ara. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 49,327,520 years to get there.
How long is a year on IC 4651 9122 b?
One orbit around IC 4651 9122 takes 734.0 Earth days.
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