Mu Arae is a relatively nearby, Sun-like star in the constellation Ara around which three planets have been discovered. One of these, the discovery of which was announced on 25 August 2004, is only about 14 times the mass of Earth, or about one-third the mass of Uranus. However, it is so close to the central star that its surface temperature is expected to be over 1,100°C.

 

Mu Arae is believed to be somewhat older than the Sun and moving into the subgiant phase of its evolution. Its metallicity is greater than that of the Sun.

 

Host star
distance	49.8 ± 0.6 light-years (15.3 ± 0.2 pc)
spectral type	G3 IV-V
apparent magnitude	5.12
mass	1.08
luminosity	1.7
radius	1.32
position	RA 17h 44m 08.7s, Dec -51° 50' 03"
Other designations	HR 6585, HD 160691, Gl 691, HIP 86796, SAO 244981

 

Planets
	d	b	c
mass	>0.044 MJupiter (14 MEarth)	>1.67 0.1 MJupiter	>3.1 ± 0.71 MJupiter
semimajor axis	0.09 AU (13.5 million km, 8.4 million mi)	1.5 ± 0.02 AU (224 million km, 93 million mi)	4.7 AU (702 million km, 291 million mi)
orbital period	9.55 ± 0.03 d	654.5 d (1.8 y)	2986 ± 30 d (8.2 y)
eccentricity	0.0	0.31	0.57 ± 0.1
discovery	2004, Santos, Bouchy et al	2002, Marcy, Butler et al	2002, Marcy, Butler et al
method	radial velocity	radial velocity	radial velocity