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Overview of 51 Pegasi b

51 Pegasi b is a gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star 51 Pegasi, located about 50 light-years away in the constellation Pegasus. It is a hot Jupiter, a planet that is similar in size to Jupiter but orbits much closer to its star, leading to extremely high surface temperatures.

Discovery

51 Pegasi b was discovered in 1995 by astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz, making it the first confirmed exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star. Its discovery revolutionized the field of exoplanet research, providing the first evidence of planets existing beyond our solar system.

Characteristics of 51 Pegasi b

• Mass: ~0.46 Jupiter masses (~146 Earth masses)
• Radius: ~1.27 Jupiter radii (~14.3 Earth radii)
• Orbital period: 4.23 days
• Distance from its star: 0.05 AU
• Surface temperature: Estimated to be around 1,200 K (927°C)

Habitability Potential

51 Pegasi b orbits very close to its parent star, resulting in scorching temperatures that make it uninhabitable by any known life forms. As a gas giant with extreme heat, it is not capable of supporting liquid water or life.