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OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b

Cold Gas Giant Ophiuchus

OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b is a cold gas giant orbiting the M star OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L in the constellation Ophiuchus. It lies about 8,382 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2012 using the microlensing method.

170×Earth mass
8,382 lyDistance
2012Discovered

Is OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b in the Habitable Zone?

The position of OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b relative to the habitable zone of OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.

Orbit and Year Length

OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b orbits at an average distance of 2.720 AU.

How Was OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b Discovered?

OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b was discovered in 2012 using the microlensing method, with observations from OGLE.

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 OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b?

OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b is 8,382.2 light-years (2,570.0 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 8,382 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 147,526,720 years to make the journey.

The Host Star: OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L

OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L

Spectral type
M
Mass
0.26 M☉

Planetary System

OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b is the only planet known to orbit OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L so far.

OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b — Complete Data

Mass170.00 Earth masses (0.530 Jupiter masses)
Orbital distance2.720 AU
Distance from Earth8,382.2 light-years (2,570.0 parsecs)
ConstellationOphiuchus
Discovery methodMicrolensing
Discovery facilityOGLE
Discovery year2012

Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2019-12-05. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.

Frequently Asked Questions About OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b

Is OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b habitable?

OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.

How far away is OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b?

OGLE-2011-BLG-0251L b is about 8,382 light-years from Earth in the constellation Ophiuchus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 147,526,720 years to get there.

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