NGTS-38 b
NGTS-38 b is a cold gas giant orbiting NGTS-38 in the constellation Canis Major. It lies about 876 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2026 using the transit method.
How Big Is NGTS-38 b?
NGTS-38 b has a radius of 12.12 times that of Earth, or 1.08 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 1,516 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 4.67 g/cm³ — comparable to rocky planets like Earth (5.51 g/cm³).
Is NGTS-38 b in the Habitable Zone?
NGTS-38 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of NGTS-38. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of NGTS-38: 1.629–3.793 AU (conservative: 2.063–3.596 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
See the full interactive habitable-zone view in the Exoplanet Explorer app ›
Temperature on NGTS-38 b
The equilibrium temperature of NGTS-38 b is about 457 K (184 °C) — hotter than anywhere on Earth. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on NGTS-38 b — one full orbit around NGTS-38 — lasts 180.5 Earth days, between the years of Mercury (88 days) and Earth (365 days). It orbits at an average distance of 0.697 AU — comparable to the inner Solar System. Its orbit is highly elliptical (eccentricity 0.31), swinging dramatically closer to and farther from its star.
How Was NGTS-38 b Discovered?
NGTS-38 b was discovered in 2026 using the transit method, with observations from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
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-38 b?
NGTS-38 b is 876.2 light-years (268.6 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1150. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 15,421,120 years to make the journey.
The Host Star: NGTS-38
NGTS-38
- Surface temperature
- 6,310 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.46 M☉
- Radius
- 1.88 R☉
- Age
- 2.2 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
NGTS-38 b is the only planet known to orbit NGTS-38 so far.
NGTS-38 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 12.117 Earth radii (1.081 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1,516.04 Earth masses (4.770 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 4.67 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 180.53 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.697 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.309 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 457 K (184 °C) |
| Distance from Earth | 876.2 light-years (268.6 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Canis Major |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) |
| Discovery year | 2026 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2026-07-09. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About NGTS-38 b
Is NGTS-38 b habitable?
No — NGTS-38 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is NGTS-38 b?
NGTS-38 b is about 876 light-years from Earth in the constellation Canis Major. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 15,421,120 years to get there.
How big is NGTS-38 b compared to Earth?
NGTS-38 b has 12.12 times the radius of Earth and about 1,516 times its mass.
How long is a year on NGTS-38 b?
One orbit around NGTS-38 takes 180.5 Earth days.
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