description PSR 1257+12 b Overview
PSR 1257+12 b is a small exoplanet orbiting a pulsar, designated PSR B1257+12. Its discovery represents a significant achievement in astronomy due to being the first confirmed planet found around such an object. The planet, estimated to be moon-sized and sub-earth in mass, offers valuable data for studying planetary formation near intense gravitational fields. Astronomers and researchers specializing in pulsar timing and exoplanet research utilize this system for further investigation.
insights Ranking position
PSR 1257+12 b ranks #31 of 264 in the Exoplanet ranking, behind WASP-12b, ahead of WASP-121b.
help PSR 1257+12 b FAQ
What is unique about the star that the exoplanet PSR 1257+12 b orbits?
The exoplanet PSR B1257+12 b (often nicknamed Draugr) orbits a pulsar named Lich, which is the rapidly spinning, highly magnetized remnant of a dead star. It is highly unusual for planets to survive the violent supernova explosion that creates a pulsar.
Who discovered the first exoplanet PSR 1257+12 b?
The exoplanet was discovered by astronomers Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail in 1992. Their discovery was groundbreaking as it proved that planetary bodies could exist outside of our solar system, specifically in extreme environments.
How large is PSR B1257+12 b compared to Earth?
PSR B1257+12 b is incredibly small, boasting a mass roughly twice that of Earth's Moon, making it the least massive exoplanet known. It is a terrestrial, rocky world located about 2,300 light-years away in the constellation Virgo.
Why aren't planets like PSR B1257+12 b considered the first habitable exoplanets?
Because PSR B1257+12 b orbits a pulsar, it is constantly bombarded by intense, lethal radiation. While it is the first confirmed exoplanet ever found, its environment is entirely hostile to life as we know it, unlike planets found later in the Goldilocks zone of sun-like stars.
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