Beta Cancri b
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | B-C Lee et al. |
| Discovery date | 2014 |
| Doppler spectroscopy (Radial velocity) | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| 1.7±0.1 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.08±0.02 |
| 605.2±4.0 days 1.66 years | |
| Star | Beta Cancri |
| Physical characteristics[1] | |
| 1.12 RJ (estimate)[2] | |
| Mass | ≥7.8±0.8 MJ |
Beta Cancri b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits the K-type giant Beta Cancri. Its mass is 7.8 Jupiter masses, it takes 1.7 years to complete one orbit of its star, and is 1.7 astronomical units from its star, on a nearly circular orbit.[1][2]
Discovery
[edit]
First evidence for a planet around Beta Cancri was presented in 2008, when variations of the host star's radial velocity with an period of 673 days, but at that time an explanation to the radial velocity variations (such as a planet) wasn't presented. In 2014, Lee et al. found further evidence for the planet's existence, finding a different period of 605.2 days. After ruling out alternative explanations for the radial velocity variations, such as stellar variability, its existence could be confirmed.[1]
Beta Cancri b was discovered with doppler spectroscopy,[3] also known as the radial velocity method, which consists on observing small variations in the star's spectrum, which are radial velocity variations and happen because the planet is able to gravitationally pull its host star.[4]
Host star
[edit]Beta Cancri (Altarf), the brightest star in Cancer, is one of the largest stars known to host exoplanets.[5] It is a K-type giant with 70% more mass than the Sun[1] but a diameter 50 times larger. It cooled to an effective temperature of 4,100 K, which is 1,700 degrees cooler than the Sun, but is 700 times more luminous than the Sun.[6] It can be seen close to Procyon, which outshine it.[7]
See also
[edit]- Hamal, Beta Ursae Minoris, Mu Leonis and Gamma1 Leonis, other giant stars with exoplanets
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Lee, B.-C.; Han, I.; Park, M.-G.; Mkrtichian, D. E.; Hatzes, A. P.; Kim, K.-M. (2014). "Planetary companions in K giants β Cancri, μ Leonis, and β Ursae Minoris". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 566: A67. arXiv:1405.2127. Bibcode:2014A&A...566A..67L. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201322608. S2CID 118631934.
- ^ a b "Beta Cancri b". NASA Eyes on Exoplanets. 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
- ^ "Notes on beta Cnc b". Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Color-Shifting Stars: The Radial-Velocity Method". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
- ^ "NASA Exoplanet Archive". exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
- ^ Baines, Ellyn K.; Armstrong, J. Thomas; Schmitt, Henrique R.; Zavala, R. T.; Benson, James A.; Hutter, Donald J.; Tycner, Christopher; Van Belle, Gerard T (2018). "Fundamental Parameters of 87 Stars from the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer". The Astronomical Journal. 155 (1): 30. arXiv:1712.08109. Bibcode:2018AJ....155...30B. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/aa9d8b. S2CID 119427037.
- ^ "Cancer Constellation Map". IAU Office of Astronomy for Education. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
