HD 37124
Encyclopedia
HD 37124 is a yellow dwarf
star
approximately 110 light-year
s away in the constellation
of Taurus
(the Bull). As of 2005, three extrasolar planet
s have been confirmed to orbit the star. This system is currently one of the only that contains multiple planet that are not hot Jupiter
s and are either near or within the habitable zone
. The name of this star comes from its identifier in the Henry Draper Catalog.
s have been confirmed to orbit the star. This system is currently one of the only that contains multiple planet that are not hot Jupiter
s and are either near or within the habitable zone
. Announced in 1999, the first planet (HD 37124 b
) was discovered orbiting its parent star around the inner edge of its star's habitable zone, causing the planet to have a somewhat similar insolation
to that of Venus
. The second planet (HD 37124 c
) was discovered in 2002. This planet also orbits within its star's habitable zone, but with an insolation similar to that of Mars
. The third and currently final planet discovered (HD 37124 d
) was announced in 2005. Though not orbiting exactly in the habitable zone, this planet is thought to have an insolation similar to that of Jupiter
. Because all planets are classified as Jovian planets, the two inner planets would be very alien in appearance, while the third planet is considered a Jupiter twin
.
Yellow dwarf
A G-type main-sequence star , often called a yellow dwarf, is a main-sequence star of spectral type G and luminosity class V. Such a star has about 0.8 to 1.2 solar masses and surface temperature of between 5,300 and 6,000 K., Tables VII, VIII...
star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
approximately 110 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 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 Taurus
Taurus (constellation)
Taurus is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is a Latin word meaning 'bull', and its astrological symbol is a stylized bull's head:...
(the Bull). As of 2005, three extrasolar planet
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...
s have been confirmed to orbit the star. This system is currently one of the only that contains multiple planet that are not hot Jupiter
Hot Jupiter
Hot Jupiters are a class of extrasolar planet whose mass is close to or exceeds that of Jupiter...
s and are either near or within 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...
. The name of this star comes from its identifier in the Henry Draper Catalog.
Planetary system
As of 2005, three extrasolar planetExtrasolar 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...
s have been confirmed to orbit the star. This system is currently one of the only that contains multiple planet that are not hot Jupiter
Hot Jupiter
Hot Jupiters are a class of extrasolar planet whose mass is close to or exceeds that of Jupiter...
s and are either near or within 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...
. Announced in 1999, the first planet (HD 37124 b
HD 37124 b
HD 37124 b is an extrasolar planet approximately 108 light-years away in the constellation of Taurus . The planet was discovered in 1999 orbiting the star HD 37124. Based on its mass, it is most likely that this planet is a Jovian planet ....
) was discovered orbiting its parent star around the inner edge of its star's habitable zone, causing the planet to have a somewhat similar insolation
Insolation
Insolation is a measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time. It is commonly expressed as average irradiance in watts per square meter or kilowatt-hours per square meter per day...
to that of Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
. The second planet (HD 37124 c
HD 37124 c
HD 37124 c is an extrasolar planet approximately 108 light-years away in the constellation of Taurus. The planet was discovered in 2002 orbiting the star HD 37124. The planet is most likely to be a gas giant ....
) was discovered in 2002. This planet also orbits within its star's habitable zone, but with an insolation similar to that of Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
. The third and currently final planet discovered (HD 37124 d
HD 37124 d
HD 37124 d is an extrasolar planet approximately 108 light-years away in the constellation of Taurus. The planet was discovered in 2005 orbiting the star HD 37124 in a long-period orbit. Based on its mass, it is considered to be a gas giant. An alternative solution to the radial velocities gives...
) was announced in 2005. Though not orbiting exactly in the habitable zone, this planet is thought to have an insolation similar to that of Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
. Because all planets are classified as Jovian planets, the two inner planets would be very alien in appearance, while the third planet is considered a Jupiter twin
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
.
External links
- Extrasolar Planet Interactions by Rory Barnes & Richard Greenberg, Lunar and Planetary Lab, University of Arizona