Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Mayor et al. |
Discovery site | La Silla Observatory, Chile |
Discovery date | June 16, 2008 |
radial velocity, using HARPS | |
Orbital characteristics | |
0.07990.07590.0839 AU | |
Eccentricity | 0.0500.13[1] |
9.61849.61359.6234[1] d | |
Semi-amplitude | 2.452.172.75[1] |
Star | HD 40307 |
HD 40307 c is an extrasolar planet orbiting the star HD 40307, located 42 light-years away in the direction of the southern constellation Pictor. The planet was discovered by the radial velocity method, using the HARPS apparatus, in June 2008. Of the six proposed planets in the HD 40307 star system, it is the third-largest, and has the second-closest orbit from the star.[1] The planet is of interest as this star has relatively low metallicity, supporting a hypothesis that different metallicities in protostars determine what kind of planets they will form.