Pollux b

Pollux b
Exoplanet List of exoplanets
Parent star
Star Pollux
Constellation Gemini
Right ascension (α) 07h 45m 19.4s
Declination (δ) +28° 01′ 35″
Apparent magnitude (mV) 1.15
Distance33.7 ly
(10.34 pc)
Spectral type K0IIIb
Orbital elements
Semi-major axis(a) 1.64±0.27 AU
Eccentricity (e) 0.02±0.03
Orbital period(P) 589.64±0.81 d
(1.61432±0.00222 y)
Time of periastron (T0) 2,447,739.02±4.5 JD
Semi-amplitude (K) 41.0±1.6 m/s
Physical characteristics
Minimum mass(m sin i)2.3±0.45 MJ
Stellar flux(F⊙)16 ⊕
Discovery information
Discovery date 16 June 2006
Discoverer(s) Hatzes et al.
Discovery method Radial velocity
Discovery site  United States
Discovery status Published
Other designations
Database references
Extrasolar Planets
Encyclopaedia		data
SIMBADdata
Exoplanet Archivedata
Open Exoplanet Cataloguedata

Pollux b, also designated Beta Geminorum b (abbreviated β Geminorum b, β Gem b) and HD 62509 b, later named Thestias, is an extrasolar planet approximately 34 light-years away in the constellation of Gemini (the Twins). This planet was discovered orbiting the star Pollux in 2006 by astronomer Artie P. Hatzes, confirming his hypothesis originally published in 1993. The planet has a comparable mass to the gas giants in the Solar System. It moves around Pollux in 1.61 years at a distance of 1.64 AU in a nearly circular orbit.

In July 2014 the International Astronomical Union launched a process for giving proper names to certain exoplanets and their host stars.[1] The process involved public nomination and voting for the new names.[2] In December 2015, the IAU announced the winning name was Thestias for this planet.[3] The winning name was based on that originally submitted by theSkyNet of Australia; namely Leda, Pollux's mother in Greek and Roman mythology. At the request of the IAU, 'Thestias' (the patronym of Leda, a daughter of Thestius) was substituted. This was because 'Leda' was already attributed to an asteroid and to one of Jupiter's satellites.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ NameExoWorlds: An IAU Worldwide Contest to Name Exoplanets and their Host Stars. IAU.org. 9 July 2014
  2. ↑ NameExoWorlds The Process
  3. ↑ Final Results of NameExoWorlds Public Vote Released, International Astronomical Union, 15 December 2015.
  4. ↑ NameExoWorlds The Approved Names
  5. ↑ YOU helped name an exoplanet!, TheSkyNet, 2015-12-17
  • A. P. Hatzes; et al. (1993). "Long-period radial velocity variations in three K giants". The Astrophysical Journal. 413: 339–348. Bibcode:1993ApJ...413..339H. doi:10.1086/173002.
  • A. P. Hatzes; et al. (2006). "Confirmation of the planet hypothesis for the long-period radial velocity variations of β Geminorum". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 457 (1): 335–341. arXiv:astro-ph/0606517. Bibcode:2006A&A...457..335H. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20065445.
  • S. Reffert; et al. (2006). "Precise Radial Velocities of Giant Stars. II. Pollux and Its Planetary Companion". The Astrophysical Journal. 652 (1): 661–665. arXiv:astro-ph/0607136. Bibcode:2006ApJ...652..661R. doi:10.1086/507516.
  • Hatzes; et al. (2006-06-16). "Confirmation of the Planet Hypothesis of the Long-period Radial velocity Variations of β Geminorum" (PDF). European Southern Observatory. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  • "Pollux". SolStation. Retrieved 2005-11-21.
  • Sabine Reffert; et al. (2006-07-07). "Precise Radial Velocities of Giant Stars II. Pollux and its Planetary Companion". Astrophysical Journal. 652: 661–665. arXiv:astro-ph/0607136. Bibcode:2006ApJ...652..661R. doi:10.1086/507516.

Coordinates: 07h 45m 19.4s, +28° 01′ 35″


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