PSR B1257+12 D

PSR B1257+12 D

Extrasolar planet		List of extrasolar planets
Parent star
Star		PSR B1257+12
Constellation		Virgo
Right ascension	(α)	13h 00m 01s
Declination	(δ)	+12° 40′ 57″
Distance		980 ly (300 pc)
Spectral type		Pulsar
Mass	(m)	assumed 1.4 M☉
Radius	(r)	~0.00002 R☉
Age		0.8 Gyr
Orbital elements
Semimajor axis	(a)	~2.6 AU
Orbital period	(P)	~3.5 y
Physical characteristics
Mass	(m)	0.0004 M⊕
Radius	(r)	0.08 R⊕
Discovery information
Discovery date		2002
Discoverer(s)		Aleksander Wolszczan
Detection method		Pulsar Timing
Discovery site		Poland
Discovery status		Published

PSR B1257+12 D is a possible extrasolar dwarf planet approximately 980 light-years away in the constellation of Virgo. It is suspected that a dwarf planet is orbiting PSR B1257+12 at an average orbital distance of 2.6 AU with an orbital period of approximately 3.5 years.

Originally, in 1996, a possible Saturn-like (100 Earth mass) gas giant was announced orbiting the pulsar at a distance of about 40 AU. However, the discovery was not conclusive and was later retracted. It is now thought that the signal came from a dwarf planetary body

The object is thought to be very small, less than 20% of the mass of Pluto

External links

• "PSR 1257+12 D". Extrasolar Visions. http://www.extrasolar.net/planettour.asp?StarCatId=pulsar&PlanetId=238. Retrieved 16 December 2008.