NGTS-26 b
NGTS-26 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting NGTS-26 in the constellation Centaurus. It lies about 3,567 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2024 using the transit method.
How Big Is NGTS-26 b?
NGTS-26 b has a radius of 14.89 times that of Earth, or 1.33 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 92.8 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 0.15 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is NGTS-26 b in the Habitable Zone?
NGTS-26 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of NGTS-26. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of NGTS-26: 0.855–2.026 AU (conservative: 1.082–1.921 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on NGTS-26 b
The equilibrium temperature of NGTS-26 b is about 1,331 K (1,058 °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 523 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on NGTS-26 b — one full orbit around NGTS-26 — lasts 4.52 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.049 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was NGTS-26 b Discovered?
NGTS-26 b was discovered in 2024 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-26 b?
NGTS-26 b is 3,567.1 light-years (1,093.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 3,567 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 62,780,960 years to make the journey.
The Host Star: NGTS-26
NGTS-26
- Surface temperature
- 5,550 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.96 M☉
- Radius
- 1.16 R☉
- Luminosity
- 1.2620 L☉
- Age
- 11.5 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
NGTS-26 b is the only planet known to orbit NGTS-26 so far.
NGTS-26 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 14.886 Earth radii (1.328 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 92.81 Earth masses (0.292 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 0.15 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 4.52 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.049 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 1,331 K (1,058 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 523.00× Earth |
| Distance from Earth | 3,567.1 light-years (1,093.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) |
| Discovery year | 2024 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2024-06-10. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About NGTS-26 b
Is NGTS-26 b habitable?
No — NGTS-26 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is NGTS-26 b?
NGTS-26 b is about 3,567 light-years from Earth in the constellation Centaurus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 62,780,960 years to get there.
How big is NGTS-26 b compared to Earth?
NGTS-26 b has 14.89 times the radius of Earth and about 92.8 times its mass.
How long is a year on NGTS-26 b?
One orbit around NGTS-26 takes 4.5 Earth days — short enough that 81 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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