description Gliese 581 b Overview
Gliese 581 b is a Neptune-class exoplanet orbiting the nearby M-dwarf Gliese 581, about 20 light-years from Earth. It has a minimum mass of roughly 16 Earth masses and completes an orbit in about 5.4 days at a distance of only a few hundredths of an astronomical unit. The planet was detected through the radial-velocity technique and is part of a system that has been examined extensively for additional planets, including several later-disputed signals.
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What kind of planet is Gliese 581 b?
Gliese 581 b is a Neptune-class exoplanet with a minimum mass of roughly 16 Earth masses. It orbits the nearby M-dwarf Gliese 581 at only a few hundredths of an astronomical unit.
How long does Gliese 581 b take to orbit its star?
It completes an orbit in about 5.4 days. The short period results from its very close orbit around the low-mass star Gliese 581.
How far away is the Gliese 581 system?
The system is about 20 light-years from Earth. Its proximity made Gliese 581 an important target in early searches for small planets around red dwarfs.
Is Gliese 581 b the potentially habitable planet in its system?
No, Gliese 581 b is the close-in Neptune-class planet and is not the usual habitability candidate. Interest in the system has focused more on planets farther from the star, although some reported planetary interpretations have been debated.
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