Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Geoffrey Marcy R. Paul Butler |
Discovery site | United States |
Discovery date | 17 January 1996[1] |
Doppler Spectroscopy | |
Orbital characteristics[2] | |
0.481 ± 0.003 AU (71,960,000 ± 450,000 km) | |
Eccentricity | 0.399±0.002 |
116.6926±0.0014 d | |
7239.7±0.1 | |
358.8±0.3 | |
Semi-amplitude | 315.7±0.7 |
Star | 70 Virginis |
Physical characteristics[2] | |
~1 RJ | |
Mass | ≥7.40±0.02 MJ |
70 Virginis b (abbreviated 70 Vir b) is an extrasolar planet approximately 60 light-years away in the constellation of Virgo. Announced in 1996 by Geoffrey Marcy and R. Paul Butler, 70 Virginis was one of the first stars confirmed to have planets orbiting it.[3] When first announced, 70 Virginis b was considered to be within its star's habitable zone (preferably in the "Goldilocks zone"), but it was later confirmed that the planet has an eccentric orbit, closer to its parent.