description Mu Arae c Overview
Mu Arae c is a close-orbiting exoplanet detected by radial-velocity measurements around Mu Arae, a G-type star about 50 light-years away. Reported in 2004, it has a minimum mass of roughly 10 Earth masses and completes an orbit in about 9.6 days, placing it in the hot-Neptune or Neptune-mass range. It was notable at discovery because it was among the lowest-mass planets then detected around a Sun-like star.
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How was Mu Arae c discovered?
Mu Arae c was detected by radial velocity with the HARPS spectrograph on ESO's 3.6-metre telescope at La Silla. The discovery was announced in 2004 as a roughly 14-Earth-mass planet, with later work refining its mass. [ESO](https://www.hq.eso.org/public/ireland/news/eso0427/)
How long is a year on Mu Arae c?
Mu Arae c completes an orbit in about 9.64 days at roughly 0.09 astronomical units from Mu Arae. Its close orbit is why it is described as a hot Neptune rather than a cool outer giant.
Is Mu Arae c a super-Earth or a hot Neptune?
Its commonly reported minimum mass is around 10.5 Earth masses, placing it near the hot-Neptune or low-mass ice-giant range. Early papers also discussed whether it could have a rocky core with a relatively small gaseous envelope.
What other planets are in the Mu Arae system?
The published four-planet model includes Mu Arae b, c, d, and e. Mu Arae c is the close-in planet with the 9.64-day orbit, while the other reported companions occupy much wider orbits. [The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets](https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0608396)
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