WASP-11 b
WASP-11 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting WASP-11 in the constellation Aries. It lies about 407 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2008 using the transit method.
How Big Is WASP-11 b?
WASP-11 b has a radius of 12.44 times that of Earth, or 1.11 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 251 times that of Earth.
Is WASP-11 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of WASP-11 b relative to the habitable zone of WASP-11 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of WASP-11: 0.485–1.183 AU (conservative: 0.615–1.122 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 WASP-11 b — one full orbit around WASP-11 — lasts 3.72 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was WASP-11 b Discovered?
WASP-11 b was discovered in 2008 using the transit method, with observations from SuperWASP.
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 WASP-11 b?
WASP-11 b is 406.8 light-years (124.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1620. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 7,159,680 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. WASP-11 b scores 0.07, ranking #4,842 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: WASP-11
WASP-11 b belongs to a system of 3 stars; it orbits WASP-11.
WASP-11
- Surface temperature
- 4,800 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.42 M☉
- Radius
- 0.89 R☉
Planetary System
WASP-11 b is the only planet known to orbit WASP-11 so far.
WASP-11 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 12.442 Earth radii (1.110 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 251.09 Earth masses (0.790 Jupiter masses) |
| Orbital period | 3.72 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.07 |
| Distance from Earth | 406.8 light-years (124.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Aries |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | SuperWASP |
| Discovery year | 2008 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2018-04-25. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About WASP-11 b
Is WASP-11 b habitable?
WASP-11 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of WASP-11, and as a hot Jupiter it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is WASP-11 b?
WASP-11 b is about 407 light-years from Earth in the constellation Aries. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 7,159,680 years to get there.
How big is WASP-11 b compared to Earth?
WASP-11 b has 12.44 times the radius of Earth and about 251 times its mass.
How long is a year on WASP-11 b?
One orbit around WASP-11 takes 3.7 Earth days — short enough that 98 of its years would fit into one Earth year.