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KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b

Cold Gas Giant Sagittarius

KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b is a cold gas giant orbiting KMT-2016-BLG-2605L in the constellation Sagittarius. It lies about 20,943 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2021 using the microlensing method.

245×Earth mass
20,943 lyDistance
2021Discovered

Is KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b in the Habitable Zone?

The position of KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b relative to the habitable zone of KMT-2016-BLG-2605L cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.

Orbit and Year Length

KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b orbits at an average distance of 0.681 AU — comparable to the inner Solar System.

How Was KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b Discovered?

KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b was discovered in 2021 using the microlensing method, with observations from KMTNet.

Gravitational microlensing detects a planet when its host star passes in front of a more distant background star, and the planet's gravity adds a brief, telltale spike to the magnified starlight. It can find planets thousands of light-years away.

How Far Away Is KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b?

KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b is 20,942.5 light-years (6,421.0 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 20,943 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 368,588,000 years to make the journey.

The Host Star: KMT-2016-BLG-2605L

KMT-2016-BLG-2605L

Mass
0.06 M☉

Planetary System

KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b is the only planet known to orbit KMT-2016-BLG-2605L so far.

KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b — Complete Data

Mass245.05 Earth masses (0.771 Jupiter masses)
Orbital distance0.681 AU
Distance from Earth20,942.5 light-years (6,421.0 parsecs)
ConstellationSagittarius
Discovery methodMicrolensing
Discovery facilityKMTNet
Discovery year2021

Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2021-11-18. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.

Frequently Asked Questions About KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b

Is KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b habitable?

KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of KMT-2016-BLG-2605L, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.

How far away is KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b?

KMT-2016-BLG-2605L b is about 20,943 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 368,588,000 years to get there.

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