Tau Ceti e is one of four exoplanets orbiting the star Tau Ceti, located approximately 12 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Cetus. Here are some key points about this exoplanet:
Discovery
Tau Ceti e was discovered in 2012 using radial velocity data collected by the HARPS spectrograph at the European Southern Observatory in Chile. It was detected as part of a study of the Tau Ceti system, which aimed to search for exoplanets around nearby stars.
Characteristics
Tau Ceti e is classified as a super-Earth, with a minimum mass estimated to be about 3.9 times that of Earth. It orbits its host star at a distance of approximately 0.552 astronomical units (AU), where one AU is the average distance between Earth and the Sun. Its orbital period is approximately 168 days.
It orbits a G-type main-sequence star called Tau Ceti, which is similar to the Sun but slightly cooler and less massive. Tau Ceti is one of the closest and most Sun-like stars to Earth.
Habitability
Tau Ceti e is positioned within the habitable zone of its star, where conditions might be suitable for the existence of liquid water on its surface. However, the actual habitability of the exoplanet remains uncertain, and further observations are needed to determine its atmospheric composition and surface characteristics.
Follow-up Observations
Additional observations of the Tau Ceti system, including Tau Ceti e, have been conducted using various telescopes and instruments to gather more information about the planet and its properties. These observations aim to refine our understanding of the system and its potential for hosting habitable planets.
Observation
Tau Ceti e is not directly visible to amateur astronomers. It’s star Tau Ceti has an apparent magnitude of about 3.5, making it one of the brighter stars in the night sky and visible to the naked eye under good conditions.
The host star is located in the constellation Cetus, which is visible from both hemispheres. It can be observed from October to January.
