PDS 70 b
PDS 70 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting PDS 70 in the constellation Centaurus. It lies about 369 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2018 using the imaging method.
How Big Is PDS 70 b?
PDS 70 b has a radius of 21.97 times that of Earth, or 1.96 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 1,017 times that of Earth.
Is PDS 70 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of PDS 70 b relative to the habitable zone of PDS 70 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Temperature on PDS 70 b
The equilibrium temperature of PDS 70 b is about 1,392 K (1,119 °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.
Orbit and Year Length
PDS 70 b orbits at an average distance of 20.800 AU. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.17).
How Was PDS 70 b Discovered?
PDS 70 b was discovered in 2018 using the imaging method, with observations from Paranal Observatory.
Direct imaging captures actual pictures of a planet by blocking out the overwhelming glare of its host star. It works best for young, hot, massive planets on wide orbits.
How Far Away Is PDS 70 b?
PDS 70 b is 368.8 light-years (113.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1658. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 6,490,880 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. PDS 70 b scores 0.03, ranking #5,325 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: PDS 70
PDS 70
- Surface temperature
- 4,109 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.98 M☉
- Age
- 0.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The PDS 70 Planetary System
PDS 70 b is one of 2 known planets in the PDS 70 system. Its siblings:
- PDS 70 c (Hot Jupiter)
PDS 70 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 21.970 Earth radii (1.960 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1,017.05 Earth masses (3.200 Jupiter masses) |
| Orbital distance | 20.800 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.170 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 1,392 K (1,119 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.03 |
| Distance from Earth | 368.8 light-years (113.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Discovery method | Imaging |
| Discovery facility | Paranal Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2018 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2026-03-19. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About PDS 70 b
Is PDS 70 b habitable?
PDS 70 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of PDS 70, and as a hot Jupiter it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is PDS 70 b?
PDS 70 b is about 369 light-years from Earth in the constellation Centaurus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 6,490,880 years to get there.
How big is PDS 70 b compared to Earth?
PDS 70 b has 21.97 times the radius of Earth and about 1,017 times its mass.
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