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Type of Star: Spectral Class: Distance: Luminosity: Mass: Surface Temperature: |
Yellow Dwarf F9V 51 Lightyears 3,01 L 1,37 Solar Masses 6550 K |
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Mass: Orbital Radius: Orbital Period: Temperature: Eccentricity: |
4,41 Jupiter Masses 0,041 AU 3,3 Days 1900°C 0,0 |
Sun
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Tau Boötes
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Tau Boötes b is an unusual world - of all the known exoplanets, it is one of the closests to its parent star. Since Tau Boötes is also much brighter than the sun, it may heat the planet to soaring 1.900°C. The intense solar winds may ionize the planet's upper atmosphere layers and blow it slowly into space. To an outside observer, Tau Boötes may look like a giant comet, as it inevitably evaporates. This may take eons, however, since Tau Boötes b is supposed to be a gas giant like most extrasolar planets discovered so far. In December 1999 astronomers reported a faint addition to the star's spectrum - though this is still actively disputed, these extra lines may be light from the planet. |
