WASP-120 b
WASP-120 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting the F5 star WASP-120 in the constellation Horologium. It lies about 1,243 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is WASP-120 b?
WASP-120 b has a radius of 15.58 times that of Earth, or 1.39 times the radius of Jupiter.
Is WASP-120 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of WASP-120 b relative to the habitable zone of WASP-120 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Temperature on WASP-120 b
The equilibrium temperature of WASP-120 b is about 1,749 K (1,476 °C) — hot enough to melt many metals. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C.
How Was WASP-120 b Discovered?
WASP-120 b was discovered in 2016 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-120 b?
WASP-120 b is 1,243.2 light-years (381.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,243 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 21,880,320 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-120 b scores 0.06, ranking #5,220 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: WASP-120
WASP-120
- Spectral type
- F5
- Age
- 0.7 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
WASP-120 b is the only planet known to orbit WASP-120 so far.
WASP-120 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 15.580 Earth radii (1.390 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Density | 2.33 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Equilibrium temperature | 1,749 K (1,476 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.06 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,243.2 light-years (381.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Horologium |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | SuperWASP |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2025-12-18. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About WASP-120 b
Is WASP-120 b habitable?
WASP-120 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of WASP-120, and as a hot Jupiter it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is WASP-120 b?
WASP-120 b is about 1,243 light-years from Earth in the constellation Horologium. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 21,880,320 years to get there.
How big is WASP-120 b compared to Earth?
WASP-120 b has 15.58 times the radius of Earth.
Explore WASP-120 b in the app
Browse, filter and compare 6,000+ exoplanets on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch — with habitable-zone views, widgets and offline data.
