Tau Ceti e
| Exoplanet | List of exoplanets | |
|---|---|---|
| Parent star | ||
| Star | Tau Ceti | |
| Constellation | Cetus | |
| Right ascension | (α) | 01h 44m 05s |
| Declination | (δ) | −15° 56′ 15″ |
| Apparent magnitude | (mV) | 3.50 |
| Distance | 11.905 ± 0.007 ly (3.65 ± 0.002 pc) | |
| Spectral type | G8.5V | |
| Mass | (m) | 0.783 ± 0.012 M☉ |
| Radius | (r) | 0.793 ± 0.004 R☉ |
| Temperature | (T) | 5344 ± 50 K |
| Metallicity | [Fe/H] | −0.55 ± 0.05 |
| Age | 5.8 Gyr | |
| Orbital elements | ||
| Semi-major axis | (a) | 0.552 ± 0.02[1] AU |
| Eccentricity | (e) | 0.05 ± 0.02[1] |
| Orbital period | (P) | 168.12 ± 2.0[1] d (0.46 y) |
| Mean anomaly | (M) | 28.65[1]° |
| Semi-amplitude | (K) | 0.58 [1] m/s |
| Physical characteristics | ||
| Minimum mass | (m sin i) | 4.3[1] M⊕ |
| Discovery information | ||
| Discovery date | 19 December 2012 | |
| Discoverer(s) | Tuomi et al. | |
| Discovery method | Radial velocity | |
| Discovery status | Unconfirmed | |
| Database references | ||
| Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia | data | |
| SIMBAD | data | |
| Exoplanet Archive | data | |
| Open Exoplanet Catalogue | data | |
Tau Ceti e is an unconfirmed planet orbiting the nearby Sun-like star Tau Ceti at a distance of 11.905 light years from the Sun. It is the fourth known planet of the system from its star.
It is notable due to its potential habitability, with an Earth Similarity Index of 0.78 and an orbit that places it on the hot inner edge of Tau Ceti's habitable zone.[2]
Discovery
As with the other four planets of Tau Ceti, it was detected by realizing statistical analyses of the data of the star's variations in radial velocity that were obtained using HIRES, AAPS, and HARPS.[1]
Characteristics
Due to the detection method used, few properties of the planet are known other than its orbit and mass.
It orbits Tau Ceti at a distance of 0.552 AU (between the orbits of Venus and Mercury in the Solar System) with an orbital period of 168 days and has a minimum mass of 4.3 Earth masses. Because the minimum mass of a super-Earth is 5 Earth masses,[3] Tau Ceti e is classified as being Earth sized.
Tau Ceti e orbits within Tau Ceti's habitable zone.
Habitability
Little is currently known of the nature of Earth sized exoplanets, it would likely be 1.8 times larger in size than the Earth.
If it possesses an Earth-like atmosphere, the surface temperature would be around 68 °C (154 °F).[4]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tuomi, M.; et al. (2013). "Signals embedded in the radial velocity noise: Periodic variations in the tau Ceti velocities" (PDF). Astronomy & Astrophysics 551: A79. arXiv:1212.4277. Bibcode:2012yCat..35519079T. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201220509.
- ↑ Abel Mendez Torres (December 19, 2012). "Two Nearby Habitable Worlds?" (Press release). Planetary Habitability Laboratory @ UPR Arecibo. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
- ↑ Earth sized = 0.5 — 5 M🜨 http://phl.upr.edu/projects/habitable-exoplanets-catalog
- ↑ Giovanni F. Bignami (2015). The Mystery of the Seven Spheres: How Homo sapiens will Conquer Space. Springer. ISBN 9783319170046., Page 110
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