Epsilon Reticuli b
Encyclopedia
Epsilon Reticuli b, sometimes designated Epsilon Reticuli Ab to distinguish from the white dwarf
companion of the primary star Epsilon Reticuli
, also known as HD 27442, was discovered on December 16, 2000 by the Anglo-Australian Planet Search
Team using the highly successful radial velocity
method. The planet's mass is at least 56% greater than Jupiter mass
, a more accurate estimate requiring its inclination
to be known.
The planet orbits its parent star relatively close, and with more than twice the eccentricity of Earth's orbit. Based on its mass, it is almost certainly a gas giant
.
White dwarf
A white dwarf, also called a degenerate dwarf, is a small star composed mostly of electron-degenerate matter. They are very dense; a white dwarf's mass is comparable to that of the Sun and its volume is comparable to that of the Earth. Its faint luminosity comes from the emission of stored...
companion of the primary star Epsilon Reticuli
Epsilon Reticuli
Epsilon Reticuli is a binary system approximately 59 light-years away in the constellation of Reticulum. The primary star is an orange subgiant star, while the secondary star is a white dwarf star. The primary star should be easily visible without optical aid under dark skies in the southern...
, also known as HD 27442, was discovered on December 16, 2000 by the Anglo-Australian Planet Search
Anglo-Australian Planet Search
The Anglo-Australian Planet Search or AAPS is a long-term astronomical survey started in 1998 and continuing to the present. It is being carried out on the 3.9m Anglo-Australian Telescope, AAT, of the Anglo-Australian Observatory in Australia. The purpose of this survey is to catalog planets around...
Team using the highly successful radial velocity
Radial velocity
Radial velocity is the velocity of an object in the direction of the line of sight . In astronomy, radial velocity most commonly refers to the spectroscopic radial velocity...
method. The planet's mass is at least 56% greater than Jupiter mass
Jupiter mass
Jupiter mass , is the unit of mass equal to the total mass of the planet Jupiter . Jupiter mass is used to describe masses of the gas giants, such as the outer planets and extrasolar planets. It is also used in describing brown dwarfs....
, a more accurate estimate requiring its inclination
Inclination
Inclination in general is the angle between a reference plane and another plane or axis of direction.-Orbits:The inclination is one of the six orbital parameters describing the shape and orientation of a celestial orbit...
to be known.
The planet orbits its parent star relatively close, and with more than twice the eccentricity of Earth's orbit. Based on its mass, it is almost certainly a gas giant
Gas giant
A gas giant is a large planet that is not primarily composed of rock or other solid matter. There are four gas giants in the Solar System: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune...
.
External links
- SIMBAD planet entry
- The Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia entry
- ε Reticuli at Extrasolar Visions
- ε Reticuli Ab at Extrasolar Visions