55 Cancri f
Encyclopedia
55 Cancri f is an extrasolar planet
approximately 41 light-year
s away from Earth in the constellation
of Cancer
(the Crab
). 55 Cancri f is the fourth known planet (in order of distance) from the star 55 Cancri
and the first planet to have been given the designation of "f".
in April 2005, however it was another two and a half years before the planet was to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. It is the first known planet outside our solar system to spend its entire orbit within what astronomers call the "habitable zone
". Furthermore, its discovery made 55 Cancri
the first star other than the Sun
known to have five planets.
55 Cancri f is located about 0.781 AU
away from the star and takes 260 days to complete a full orbit. A limitation of the radial velocity method used to detect 55 Cancri f is that only a minimum mass
can be obtained, in this case around 0.144 times that of Jupiter, or half the mass of Saturn
. A Keplerian
fit to the radial velocity data of 55 Cancri A indicates that the orbit is consistent with being circular, however changing the value in a range between 0 and 0.4 does not significantly alter the chi-squared statistic of the fit, thus a representative eccentricity of 0.2±0.2 was assumed. In a Newtonian
model which takes interactions between the planets into account, the eccentricity comes out as 0.0002, almost circular.
Astrometric
observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope
suggest that the outer planet 55 Cancri d
is inclined at 53° with respect to the plane of the sky. If these measurements are confirmed and the system is assumed to be coplanar
, the true mass
of 55 Cancri f would therefore be about 25% greater than this lower limit, at around 0.18 Jupiter mass
es.
, composition and temperature
are unknown. With a mass half that of Saturn
, 55 Cancri f is likely to be a gas giant
with no solid surface. It orbits in the so-called "habitable zone
," which means that liquid water
could exist on the surface of a possible moon.
It is not known if the composition and appearance is more like Saturn or Neptune. Based on its temperature, it should be a Sudarsky Class II planet, covered in water clouds.
Extrasolar planet
An extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, is a planet outside the Solar System. A total of such planets have been identified as of . It is now known that a substantial fraction of stars have planets, including perhaps half of all Sun-like stars...
approximately 41 light-year
Light-year
A light-year, also light year or lightyear is a unit of length, equal to just under 10 trillion kilometres...
s away from Earth in the constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
of Cancer
Cancer (constellation)
Cancer is one of the twelve constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for crab and it is commonly represented as such. Its symbol is . Cancer is small and its stars are faint...
(the Crab
Crab
True crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" , or where the reduced abdomen is entirely hidden under the thorax...
). 55 Cancri f is the fourth known planet (in order of distance) from the star 55 Cancri
55 Cancri
55 Cancri , also cataloged Rho1 Cancri or abbreviated 55 Cnc, is a binary star approximately 41 light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Cancer...
and the first planet to have been given the designation of "f".
Discovery
The initial presentation of this planet occurred at a meeting of the American Astronomical SocietyAmerican Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
in April 2005, however it was another two and a half years before the planet was to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. It is the first known planet outside our solar system to spend its entire orbit within what astronomers call the "habitable zone
Habitable zone
In astronomy and astrobiology, a habitable zone is an umbrella term for regions that are considered favourable to life. The concept is inferred from the empirical study of conditions favourable for Life on Earth...
". Furthermore, its discovery made 55 Cancri
55 Cancri
55 Cancri , also cataloged Rho1 Cancri or abbreviated 55 Cnc, is a binary star approximately 41 light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Cancer...
the first star other than the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
known to have five planets.
Orbit and mass
Astronomical unit
An astronomical unit is a unit of length equal to about or approximately the mean Earth–Sun distance....
away from the star and takes 260 days to complete a full orbit. A limitation of the radial velocity method used to detect 55 Cancri f is that only a minimum mass
Minimum mass
In astronomy, minimum mass is the lower-bound calculated mass of observed objects such as planets, stars and binary systems, nebulae, and black holes. Minimum mass is a widely cited statistic for extrasolar planets...
can be obtained, in this case around 0.144 times that of Jupiter, or half the mass of Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
. A Keplerian
Kepler's laws of planetary motion
In astronomy, Kepler's laws give a description of the motion of planets around the Sun.Kepler's laws are:#The orbit of every planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one of the two foci....
fit to the radial velocity data of 55 Cancri A indicates that the orbit is consistent with being circular, however changing the value in a range between 0 and 0.4 does not significantly alter the chi-squared statistic of the fit, thus a representative eccentricity of 0.2±0.2 was assumed. In a Newtonian
Newton's laws of motion
Newton's laws of motion are three physical laws that form the basis for classical mechanics. They describe the relationship between the forces acting on a body and its motion due to those forces...
model which takes interactions between the planets into account, the eccentricity comes out as 0.0002, almost circular.
Astrometric
Astrometry
Astrometry is the branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. The information obtained by astrometric measurements provides information on the kinematics and physical origin of our Solar System and our Galaxy, the Milky...
observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
suggest that the outer planet 55 Cancri d
55 Cancri d
55 Cancri d is an extrasolar planet in a long-period orbit around the Sun-like star 55 Cancri A. Located at a similar distance from its star as Jupiter is from our Sun, it is the fifth and outermost known planet in its planetary system...
is inclined at 53° with respect to the plane of the sky. If these measurements are confirmed and the system is assumed to be coplanar
Coplanarity
In geometry, a set of points in space is coplanar if all the points lie in the same geometric plane. For example, three distinct points are always coplanar; but a fourth point or more added in space can exist in another plane, incoplanarly....
, the true mass
True mass
The term true mass is synonymous with the term mass, but is used in astronomy to differentiate the measured mass of a planet from the lower limit of mass usually obtained from radial velocity techniques...
of 55 Cancri f would therefore be about 25% greater than this lower limit, at around 0.18 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....
es.
Characteristics
Since the planet was detected indirectly through observations of its star, properties such as its radiusRadius
In classical geometry, a radius of a circle or sphere is any line segment from its center to its perimeter. By extension, the radius of a circle or sphere is the length of any such segment, which is half the diameter. If the object does not have an obvious center, the term may refer to its...
, composition and temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
are unknown. With a mass half that of Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
, 55 Cancri f is likely to be 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...
with no solid surface. It orbits in the so-called "habitable zone
Habitable zone
In astronomy and astrobiology, a habitable zone is an umbrella term for regions that are considered favourable to life. The concept is inferred from the empirical study of conditions favourable for Life on Earth...
," which means that liquid water
Extraterrestrial liquid water
Extraterrestrial liquid water, the presence of water in its liquid state, is a subject of wide interest because it is a commonly suggested prerequisite for the emergence of extraterrestrial life....
could exist on the surface of a possible moon.
It is not known if the composition and appearance is more like Saturn or Neptune. Based on its temperature, it should be a Sudarsky Class II planet, covered in water clouds.