Ross 458 c: Photographed, Not Inferred
Gas giant around Ross 458
It is 1.25 times Jupiter's radius, closest in size to Jupiter, and 1907.0 times Earth's mass.
Radius
14.01 Earth radii
Mass
1907.0 Earth masses
Orbit radius
1100.0000 AU
Distance
38 light-years
Known and unknown, as the archive has it
A measured radius. Yes.
A measured mass. Yes.
A density, which decides rock or gas. No.
A semi-major axis. Yes.
A temperature someone observed rather than calculated. No.
An eccentricity, so the orbit shape is known. No.
What seeing it actually provides
Photons from the planet itself rather than an inference from the star.
Found by Las Campanas Observatory in 2010.
This is one of the rare planets that has actually been photographed. Fewer than a hundred of the thousands known were found this way, and they are mostly young giants far from their stars.
Fewer than a hundred planets have been photographed rather than inferred. Does \
seeing one directly change how real it feels to you?
