WASP-126 b
WASP-126 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting WASP-126 in the constellation Hydrus. It lies about 706 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
Is WASP-126 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of WASP-126 b relative to the habitable zone of WASP-126 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of WASP-126: 0.959–2.258 AU (conservative: 1.215–2.141 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-126 b — one full orbit around WASP-126 — lasts 3.29 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was WASP-126 b Discovered?
WASP-126 b was discovered in 2016 using the transit method, with observations from SuperWASP-South.
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-126 b?
WASP-126 b is 706.2 light-years (216.5 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1320. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 12,429,120 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-126 b scores 0.08, ranking #4,574 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: WASP-126
WASP-126
- Surface temperature
- 5,800 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.12 M☉
- Radius
- 1.27 R☉
The WASP-126 Planetary System
WASP-126 b is one of 2 known planets in the WASP-126 system. Its siblings:
- WASP-126 c (Hot Jupiter)
WASP-126 b — Complete Data
| Mass | 90.30 Earth masses (0.284 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 3.29 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.08 |
| Distance from Earth | 706.2 light-years (216.5 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Hydrus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | SuperWASP-South |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2019-12-02. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About WASP-126 b
Is WASP-126 b habitable?
WASP-126 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of WASP-126, and as a hot Jupiter it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is WASP-126 b?
WASP-126 b is about 706 light-years from Earth in the constellation Hydrus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 12,429,120 years to get there.
How long is a year on WASP-126 b?
One orbit around WASP-126 takes 3.3 Earth days — short enough that 111 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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