WASP-47 c
WASP-47 c is a cold gas giant orbiting WASP-47 in the constellation Aquarius. It lies about 864 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2015 using the radial velocity method.
Is WASP-47 c in the Habitable Zone?
The position of WASP-47 c relative to the habitable zone of WASP-47 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on WASP-47 c — one full orbit around WASP-47 — lasts 589.6 Earth days, longer than an Earth year. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.26).
How Was WASP-47 c Discovered?
WASP-47 c was discovered in 2015 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 WASP-47 c?
WASP-47 c is 863.6 light-years (264.8 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1163. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 15,199,360 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-47 c scores 0.36, ranking #698 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: WASP-47
WASP-47
- Mass
- 1.06 M☉
- Radius
- 1.16 R☉
The WASP-47 Planetary System
WASP-47 c is one of 4 known planets in the WASP-47 system. Its siblings:
WASP-47 c — Complete Data
| Mass | 447.00 Earth masses (1.406 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 589.57 days |
| Eccentricity | 0.264 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.36 |
| Distance from Earth | 863.6 light-years (264.8 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Aquarius |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | La Silla Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2015 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2024-08-16. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About WASP-47 c
Is WASP-47 c habitable?
WASP-47 c is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of WASP-47, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is WASP-47 c?
WASP-47 c is about 864 light-years from Earth in the constellation Aquarius. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 15,199,360 years to get there.
How long is a year on WASP-47 c?
One orbit around WASP-47 takes 589.6 Earth days.
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