70 Virginis

A Sun-like star around which has been found a high-mass planet in a very eccentric orbit. The companion of 70 Virginis is the prototype for the eccentric jovian class of extrasolar planets. Although this world may lie within the habitable zone of its host star – earning it the nickname "Goldilocks," since its orbital distance is "just right" – two other factors argue against the possibility of it harboring life. First, the planet moves in such an elongated orbit that it must experience severe seasonal variations in climate. Second, being so massive, it almost certainly has an immense, crushing atmosphere. It appears to be similar in nature to the companion of HD 114762.

Host star
distance	59.1 light-years (18.1 parsecs)
spectral type	G2.5Va
temperature	5,500°C
luminosity (Sun = 1)	2.9
mass (Sun = 1)	1.10
apparent magnitude	4.98
position	R.A. 13h 28m 25.8s , Dec. +13° 46' 43.6"
other designations	HD 117176, HR 5072, BD+14°2621, Gl 512.1, WDS 13284+1347A, SAO 100582

Planet
mass (Jupiter = 1)	7.49 ± 0.61
semimajor axis	0.48 AU (72 million km, 44.6 million miles)
orbital period	116.7 days
eccentricity	0.40
discovery	1996, Marcy, Butler, et al
method of discovery	radial velocity

Reference

Marcy, G. W., and Butler, R. P. "A Planetary Companion to 70 Virginis," Astrophysical Journal Letters," 464, L147 (1996).

External site

Notes for 70 Vir (Extrasolar Planets Catalog)

Related categories

• EXTRASOLAR PLANETS AND SUBSTELLAR OBJECTS
• NOTABLE STARS

BACK TO TOP

YOU ARE HERE:

Worlds of David Darling
Encyclopedia of Science
70 Virginis

ALSO ON THIS SITE:

Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living

Encyclopedia of History

OTHER SITES BY DAVID DARLING:

Megacatastrophes

Songs of the Cosmos