description PSR 1257+12 d Overview
PSR 1257+12 d, also known as Phobetor, is a super-Earth exoplanet orbiting the millisecond pulsar Lich, located roughly 2,300 light-years away. Discovered in 1994 using pulsar timing methods, it is part of the first confirmed exoplanetary system. The planet has a mass about four times that of Earth and takes approximately 91 days to complete an orbit. It provided early evidence that planets could form in the harsh environment surrounding a pulsar.
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What makes PSR B1257+12 d (Phobetor) unusual among known exoplanets?
PSR B1257+12 d orbits a pulsar—a rapidly rotating neutron star designated Lich—rather than a normal main-sequence star. It is part of the first confirmed exoplanetary system ever discovered, identified by Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail using the Arecibo radio telescope in the early 1990s.
How were the planets around PSR B1257+12 detected if they orbit a pulsar?
They were found using the pulsar timing method, which measures incredibly precise variations in the arrival times of the neutron star's radio pulses. The gravitational pull of orbiting planets causes tiny but measurable shifts in those pulse arrival times, allowing astronomers to infer the planets' masses and orbital periods.
Could PSR B1257+12 d support life?
It is considered extremely unlikely. The host pulsar emits intense beams of radiation and high-energy particles that would sterilize the surrounding environment, and the planets likely formed from debris left over after the supernova explosion that created the neutron star.
How large is PSR B1257+12 d compared to Earth?
PSR B1257+12 d is classified as a super-Earth, with an estimated mass a few times that of Earth. It is the outermost of the three confirmed planets orbiting the Lich pulsar and has a relatively longer orbital period compared to its two inner companions.
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