Home
Closeup
Planets
Software
Star Gallery
Links
Contact Us
|
 |
Star System Identities:
HD 22049, HR 1084, Gliese 144, SAO 130564, BD -09° 697, MSDB 680.
Planet "b"
Only one planet is currently known to exist in the Epsilon Eridani system. Its orbit swings wildly with an eccentricity on the order of 0.61. Even at the closest point in its orbit (called "periastron"), it remains far beyond the "eco-zone" — that realm within which a habitable planet might be found. This massive planet weighs in at an estimated 86% the mass of Jupiter. The actual mass may be somewhat higher, depending on the inclination of the orbit to the line of sight from Earth.
New Earth?
The "tidal braking" zone nearly fills the eco-zone, eliminating all but the slimmest chance for finding a habitable planet in the Epsilon Eridani system. If such a planet were to be found, it would be at the cold edge of the eco-zone. Its atmosphere would contain sufficient greenhouse gases to retain a larger percentage of the warmth it receives than does Earth from our sun.
|