Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Centaurus |
Right ascension | 14h 07m 47.92976s[2] |
Declination | −39° 45′ 42.7671″[2] |
Details | |
Mass | <6[1]: 2 MJup |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
J1407b is a substellar object, either a free-floating planet or brown dwarf, with a massive circumplanetary disk or ring system. It was first detected by automated telescopes in 2007 when its disk eclipsed the star V1400 Centauri, causing a series of dimming events for 56 days. The eclipse by J1407b was not discovered until 2010, by Mark Pecaut and Eric Mamajek, and was announced in 2012. J1407b's disk spans a radius of about 90 million kilometers (56 million miles) and consists of many rings and gaps which may indicate moons are forming in orbit around the object. It was initially thought to be orbiting V1400 Centauri, but later studies suggest J1407b is likely an unbound object that coincidentally passed in front of the star. J1407b was potentially observed via high-resolution imaging in 2017, which may suggest the object is less than 6 Jupiter masses.