TOI-500 e
TOI-500 e is a Neptune-like planet orbiting the K6 V star TOI-500 in the constellation Puppis. It lies about 155 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2022 using the radial velocity method.
Is TOI-500 e in the Habitable Zone?
The position of TOI-500 e relative to the habitable zone of TOI-500 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of TOI-500: 0.321–0.795 AU (conservative: 0.406–0.754 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 ›
Orbit and Year Length
A year on TOI-500 e — one full orbit around TOI-500 — lasts 61.3 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.07).
How Was TOI-500 e Discovered?
TOI-500 e was discovered in 2022 using the radial velocity method, with observations from La Silla 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 TOI-500 e?
TOI-500 e is 154.6 light-years (47.4 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1872. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 2,720,960 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. TOI-500 e scores 0.47, ranking #295 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: TOI-500
TOI-500
- Spectral type
- K6 V
- Surface temperature
- 4,440 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.74 M☉
- Radius
- 0.68 R☉
- Age
- 5.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The TOI-500 Planetary System
TOI-500 e is one of 4 known planets in the TOI-500 system. Its siblings:
TOI-500 e — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 15.05 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 61.30 days |
| Eccentricity | 0.073 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.47 |
| Distance from Earth | 154.6 light-years (47.4 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Puppis |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | La Silla Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2022 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2022-05-09. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About TOI-500 e
Is TOI-500 e habitable?
TOI-500 e is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of TOI-500, and as a Neptune-like planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is TOI-500 e?
TOI-500 e is about 155 light-years from Earth in the constellation Puppis. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 2,720,960 years to get there.
How long is a year on TOI-500 e?
One orbit around TOI-500 takes 61.3 Earth days.