description 55 Cancri b Overview
55 Cancri b is a gas giant exoplanet orbiting the Sun-like star 55 Cancri (also designated Copernicus), located approximately 41 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cancer. Discovered in 1996 through radial velocity measurements, it has a minimum mass comparable to Jupiter and orbits at approximately 0.11 astronomical units with a period of about 14.7 days. The planet is part of a multi-planet system containing at least four other known exoplanets. It was one of the earliest exoplanets discovered around a Sun-like star.
help 55 Cancri b FAQ
What is 55 Cancri b?
55 Cancri b is a gas giant orbiting the Sun-like star 55 Cancri, also called Copernicus. Its minimum mass is comparable to Jupiter, although the true mass depends on the system's orbital inclination.
How far away is 55 Cancri b?
The 55 Cancri system is approximately 41 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cancer. The host star is bright enough to have been studied extensively with radial-velocity techniques.
When was 55 Cancri b discovered?
55 Cancri b was discovered in 1996 through radial-velocity measurements. It was one of the early exoplanets found around a star similar to the Sun.
Is 55 Cancri b a rocky planet?
No, it is classified as a gas giant rather than a terrestrial rocky planet. The planet's minimum mass is close to Jupiter's, so it is expected to have a substantial gaseous envelope.
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