WD 0806-661 b
WD 0806-661 b is a cold gas giant orbiting the DQ star WD 0806-661 in the constellation Volans. It lies about 63 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2011 using the imaging method.
Is WD 0806-661 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of WD 0806-661 b relative to the habitable zone of WD 0806-661 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Temperature on WD 0806-661 b
The equilibrium temperature of WD 0806-661 b is about 340 K (67 °C) — hotter than anywhere on Earth. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C.
Orbit and Year Length
WD 0806-661 b orbits at an average distance of 2,500.000 AU.
How Was WD 0806-661 b Discovered?
WD 0806-661 b was discovered in 2011 using the imaging method, with observations from Spitzer Space Telescope.
Direct imaging captures actual pictures of a planet by blocking out the overwhelming glare of its host star. It works best for young, hot, massive planets on wide orbits.
How Far Away Is WD 0806-661 b?
WD 0806-661 b is 62.8 light-years (19.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1964. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 1,105,280 years to make the journey.
The Host Star: WD 0806-661
WD 0806-661
- Spectral type
- DQ
- Mass
- 0.62 M☉
- Age
- 2.1 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
WD 0806-661 b is the only planet known to orbit WD 0806-661 so far.
WD 0806-661 b — Complete Data
| Mass | 2,542.63 Earth masses (8.000 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital distance | 2,500.000 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 340 K (67 °C) |
| Distance from Earth | 62.8 light-years (19.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Volans |
| Discovery method | Imaging |
| Discovery facility | Spitzer Space Telescope |
| Discovery year | 2011 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2022-04-12. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About WD 0806-661 b
Is WD 0806-661 b habitable?
WD 0806-661 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of WD 0806-661, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is WD 0806-661 b?
WD 0806-661 b is about 63 light-years from Earth in the constellation Volans. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 1,105,280 years to get there.
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