WTS-1 b
WTS-1 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting the F6 V star WTS-1 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 7,652 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2012 using the transit method.
How Big Is WTS-1 b?
WTS-1 b has a radius of 16.70 times that of Earth, or 1.49 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 1,274 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 1.61 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is WTS-1 b in the Habitable Zone?
WTS-1 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of WTS-1. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of WTS-1: 0.981–2.287 AU (conservative: 1.243–2.169 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on WTS-1 b
The equilibrium temperature of WTS-1 b is about 1,500 K (1,227 °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.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on WTS-1 b — one full orbit around WTS-1 — lasts 3.35 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.047 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.10).
How Was WTS-1 b Discovered?
WTS-1 b was discovered in 2012 using the transit method, with observations from United Kingdom Infrared Telescope.
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 WTS-1 b?
WTS-1 b is 7,651.7 light-years (2,346.0 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 7,652 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 134,669,920 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. WTS-1 b scores 0.06, ranking #5,209 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: WTS-1
WTS-1
- Spectral type
- F6 V
- Surface temperature
- 6,250 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.20 M☉
- Radius
- 1.15 R☉
- Age
- 2.6 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
WTS-1 b is the only planet known to orbit WTS-1 so far.
WTS-1 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 16.700 Earth radii (1.490 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1,274.44 Earth masses (4.010 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 1.61 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 3.35 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.047 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.100 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 1,500 K (1,227 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.06 |
| Distance from Earth | 7,651.7 light-years (2,346.0 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | United Kingdom Infrared Telescope |
| Discovery year | 2012 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2014-05-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About WTS-1 b
Is WTS-1 b habitable?
No — WTS-1 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is WTS-1 b?
WTS-1 b is about 7,652 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 134,669,920 years to get there.
How big is WTS-1 b compared to Earth?
WTS-1 b has 16.70 times the radius of Earth and about 1,274 times its mass.
How long is a year on WTS-1 b?
One orbit around WTS-1 takes 3.4 Earth days — short enough that 109 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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