WASP-6 b
WASP-6 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting WASP-6 in the constellation Aquarius. It lies about 643 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2009 using the transit method.
How Big Is WASP-6 b?
WASP-6 b has a radius of 12.54 times that of Earth, or 1.12 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 148 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 0.44 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is WASP-6 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of WASP-6 b relative to the habitable zone of WASP-6 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of WASP-6: 0.536–1.275 AU (conservative: 0.679–1.209 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on WASP-6 b
The equilibrium temperature of WASP-6 b is about 1,167 K (894 °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. It receives 288 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on WASP-6 b — one full orbit around WASP-6 — lasts 3.36 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was WASP-6 b Discovered?
WASP-6 b was discovered in 2009 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-6 b?
WASP-6 b is 642.9 light-years (197.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1384. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 11,315,040 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-6 b scores 0.08, ranking #4,663 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: WASP-6
WASP-6
- Surface temperature
- 5,438 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.85 M☉
- Radius
- 0.79 R☉
- Age
- 3.2 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
WASP-6 b is the only planet known to orbit WASP-6 so far.
WASP-6 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 12.543 Earth radii (1.119 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 148.43 Earth masses (0.467 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 0.44 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 3.36 days |
| Equilibrium temperature | 1,167 K (894 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 288.00× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.08 |
| Distance from Earth | 642.9 light-years (197.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Aquarius |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | SuperWASP |
| Discovery year | 2009 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2025-10-09. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About WASP-6 b
Is WASP-6 b habitable?
WASP-6 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of WASP-6, and as a hot Jupiter it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is WASP-6 b?
WASP-6 b is about 643 light-years from Earth in the constellation Aquarius. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 11,315,040 years to get there.
How big is WASP-6 b compared to Earth?
WASP-6 b has 12.54 times the radius of Earth and about 148 times its mass.
How long is a year on WASP-6 b?
One orbit around WASP-6 takes 3.4 Earth days — short enough that 109 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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