psi1 Dra B b
psi1 Dra B b is a cold gas giant orbiting the G0 V star psi1 Dra B in the constellation Draco. It lies about 74 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2015 using the radial velocity method.
Is psi1 Dra B b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of psi1 Dra B b relative to the habitable zone of psi1 Dra B cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on psi1 Dra B b — one full orbit around psi1 Dra B — lasts 3,117.0 Earth days, longer than an Earth year. It orbits at an average distance of 4.430 AU. Its orbit is highly elliptical (eccentricity 0.40), swinging dramatically closer to and farther from its star.
How Was psi1 Dra B b Discovered?
psi1 Dra B b was discovered in 2015 using the radial velocity method, with observations from McDonald Observatory.
The radial velocity method measures the subtle wobble of a star caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet, visible as periodic shifts in the star's light spectrum. The size of the wobble reveals the planet's minimum mass.
How Far Away Is psi1 Dra B b?
psi1 Dra B b is 74.1 light-years (22.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1952. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 1,304,160 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. psi1 Dra B b scores 0.17, ranking #4,076 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: psi1 Dra B
psi1 Dra B b belongs to a system of 3 stars; it orbits psi1 Dra B.
psi1 Dra B
- Spectral type
- G0 V
- Surface temperature
- 6,212 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.19 M☉
- Age
- 3.3 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
psi1 Dra B b is the only planet known to orbit psi1 Dra B so far.
psi1 Dra B b — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 486.28 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 3,117.00 days |
| Orbital distance | 4.430 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.400 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.17 |
| Distance from Earth | 74.1 light-years (22.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Draco |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | McDonald Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2015 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2015-12-16. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About psi1 Dra B b
Is psi1 Dra B b habitable?
psi1 Dra B b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of psi1 Dra B, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is psi1 Dra B b?
psi1 Dra B b is about 74 light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 1,304,160 years to get there.
How long is a year on psi1 Dra B b?
One orbit around psi1 Dra B takes 3,117.0 Earth days.
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