TOI-942 b
TOI-942 b is a sub-Neptune orbiting TOI-942 in the constellation Lepus. It lies about 498 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2020 using the transit method.
How Big Is TOI-942 b?
TOI-942 b has a radius of 3.89 times that of Earth.
Is TOI-942 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of TOI-942 b relative to the habitable zone of TOI-942 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on TOI-942 b — one full orbit around TOI-942 — lasts 4.32 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.049 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical (eccentricity 0.34), swinging dramatically closer to and farther from its star.
How Was TOI-942 b Discovered?
TOI-942 b was discovered in 2020 using the transit method, with observations from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
The transit method watches a star for the tiny, regular dip in brightness that occurs when a planet crosses in front of it. The depth and timing of these dips reveal the planet's size and orbital period.
How Far Away Is TOI-942 b?
TOI-942 b is 497.7 light-years (152.6 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1529. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 8,759,520 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-942 b scores 0.18, ranking #4,013 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: TOI-942
TOI-942
- Mass
- 0.82 M☉
- Radius
- 0.89 R☉
- Age
- 0.1 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The TOI-942 Planetary System
TOI-942 b is one of 2 known planets in the TOI-942 system. Its siblings:
- TOI-942 c (Neptune-like)
TOI-942 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.890 Earth radii (0.347 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 4.32 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.049 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.340 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.18 |
| Distance from Earth | 497.7 light-years (152.6 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lepus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) |
| Discovery year | 2020 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2023-04-17. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About TOI-942 b
Is TOI-942 b habitable?
TOI-942 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of TOI-942, and as a sub-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is TOI-942 b?
TOI-942 b is about 498 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lepus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 8,759,520 years to get there.
How big is TOI-942 b compared to Earth?
TOI-942 b has 3.89 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on TOI-942 b?
One orbit around TOI-942 takes 4.3 Earth days — short enough that 84 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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