Gliese 876 Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Gliese 876
Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0
Constellation	Aquarius
Right ascension	22^h 53^m 16.7323^s
Declination	−14° 15′ 49.3034″
Apparent magnitude (V)	10.15
Characteristics
Spectral type	M4V
U−B color index	1.15
B−V color index	1.59
V−R color index	0.30
R−I color index	1.22
Variable type	BY Draconis
Astrometry

Radial velocity (R_v)	–1.519 ± 0.157 km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: 957.961±0.117 mas/yr Dec.: −673.638±0.102 mas/yr
Parallax (π)	213.8669 ± 0.0758 mas
Distance	15.250 ± 0.005 ly (4.676 ± 0.002 pc)
Absolute magnitude (M_V)	11.79

Details

Mass	0.37 `M`_☉
Radius	0.3761±0.0059 `R`_☉
Luminosity	0.0122±0.0002 `L`_☉
Surface gravity (log g)	4.89 cgs
Temperature	3129±19 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	+0.19 ± 0.17 dex
Rotation	96.9 days
Rotational velocity (v sin i)	0.16, km/s
Age	0.1–9.9 Gyr

Other designations
BD-15°6290, G 156-057, GCTP 5546.00, HIP 113020, IL Aquarii, LHS 530, Ross 780, Vys 337
Database references
SIMBAD	Gliese 876
	d
	c
	b
	e
Exoplanet Archive	data
ARICNS	data
Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia	data

Gliese 876 is a red dwarf about 15 light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Aquarius. It is the closest star known to be a multiplanetary system. As of 2011, four extrasolar planets have been found orbiting the star.

It is the third closest known star to the Sun which has a planetary system, after Epsilon Eridani (10.5 ly) and Gliese 674 (14.8 ly).

Two of the middle planets are in the system's habitable zone. However, they are giant planets thought to be like Jupiter.

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