NGTS-13 b
NGTS-13 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting NGTS-13 in the constellation Centaurus. It lies about 2,112 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2021 using the transit method.
How Big Is NGTS-13 b?
NGTS-13 b has a radius of 12.80 times that of Earth, or 1.14 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 1,538 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 4.02 g/cm³ — between that of rocky and gaseous planets.
Is NGTS-13 b in the Habitable Zone?
NGTS-13 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of NGTS-13. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of NGTS-13: 1.358–3.196 AU (conservative: 1.720–3.030 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on NGTS-13 b
The equilibrium temperature of NGTS-13 b is about 1,605 K (1,332 °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. It receives 1,096 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on NGTS-13 b — one full orbit around NGTS-13 — lasts 4.12 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.055 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.09).
How Was NGTS-13 b Discovered?
NGTS-13 b was discovered in 2021 using the transit method, with observations from Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS).
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 NGTS-13 b?
NGTS-13 b is 2,112.2 light-years (647.6 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,112 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 37,174,720 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. NGTS-13 b scores 0.07, ranking #4,930 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: NGTS-13
NGTS-13
- Surface temperature
- 5,819 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.30 M☉
- Radius
- 1.79 R☉
- Luminosity
- 3.2900 L☉
- Age
- 4.2 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
NGTS-13 b is the only planet known to orbit NGTS-13 so far.
NGTS-13 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 12.801 Earth radii (1.142 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1,538.30 Earth masses (4.840 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 4.02 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 4.12 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.055 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.086 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 1,605 K (1,332 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 1,096.00× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.07 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,112.2 light-years (647.6 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) |
| Discovery year | 2021 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2021-02-08. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About NGTS-13 b
Is NGTS-13 b habitable?
No — NGTS-13 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is NGTS-13 b?
NGTS-13 b is about 2,112 light-years from Earth in the constellation Centaurus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 37,174,720 years to get there.
How big is NGTS-13 b compared to Earth?
NGTS-13 b has 12.80 times the radius of Earth and about 1,538 times its mass.
How long is a year on NGTS-13 b?
One orbit around NGTS-13 takes 4.1 Earth days — short enough that 89 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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