PZ Tel b
PZ Tel b is a exoplanet orbiting the G9 IV star PZ Tel in the constellation Telescopium. It lies about 154 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2023 using the imaging method.
Is PZ Tel b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of PZ Tel b relative to the habitable zone of PZ Tel cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on PZ Tel b — one full orbit around PZ Tel — lasts 44,000.0 Earth days, longer than Jupiter's 12-year orbit. It orbits at an average distance of 27.000 AU. Its orbit is highly elliptical (eccentricity 0.52), swinging dramatically closer to and farther from its star.
How Was PZ Tel b Discovered?
PZ Tel b was discovered in 2023 using the imaging method, with observations from W. M. Keck 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 PZ Tel b?
PZ Tel b is 153.5 light-years (47.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1873. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 2,701,600 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. PZ Tel b scores 0.08, ranking #4,765 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: PZ Tel
PZ Tel
- Spectral type
- G9 IV
- Mass
- 1.36 M☉
- Age
- 0.2 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
PZ Tel b is the only planet known to orbit PZ Tel so far.
PZ Tel b — Complete Data
| Mass | 8,581.37 Earth masses (27.000 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 44,000.00 days |
| Orbital distance | 27.000 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.520 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.08 |
| Distance from Earth | 153.5 light-years (47.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Telescopium |
| Discovery method | Imaging |
| Discovery facility | W. M. Keck Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2023 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2023-04-10. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About PZ Tel b
Is PZ Tel b habitable?
PZ Tel b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of PZ Tel.
How far away is PZ Tel b?
PZ Tel b is about 154 light-years from Earth in the constellation Telescopium. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 2,701,600 years to get there.
How long is a year on PZ Tel b?
One orbit around PZ Tel takes 44,000.0 Earth days.
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