An eccentric Jupiter is a Jovian planet that orbits its star in an eccentric orbit. Eccentric Jupiters may disqualify a planetary system from having Earth-like planets in it because a massive gas giant with an eccentric orbit may remove all Earth mass planets from the habitable zone.
To date, it appears that approximately 7% of all stars (half of the known planetary systems) have an eccentric Jupiter (e > 0.1), making these planets more common than Hot Jupiters.
Out of the more than 200 extrasolar planet discoveries (as of 2006), 15 planets have high eccentricities (e > 0.6).
The typical exoplanet with an orbital period greater than 5 days has a median eccentricity of 0.23.
Possible habitable zone planets near eccentric Jupiters:
| Planet | SMA | ecc | MJ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 3651 b | 0.29 | 0.61 | 0.22 | Might allow for planets at or beyond 0.6 AU |
| HD 37605 b | 0.26 | 0.73 | 2.84 | Might allow for planets at or beyond 0.8 AU |
| HD 45350 b | 1.92 | 0.77 | 1.79 | restricted stable orbits to the innermost 0.2 AU |
| HD 80606 b | 0.45 | 0.93 | 4.0 | only beyond 1.75 AU did test particles remain |
| HD 89744 b | 0.93 | 0.67 | 8.58 | No planets in the habitable zone |
| 16 Cygni Bb | 1.68 | 0.68 | 1.68 | No planets in the habitable zone |
Famous quotes containing the words eccentric and/or jupiter:
“It was when the trees were leafless first in November
And their blackness became apparent, that one first
Knew the eccentric to be the base of design.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)
“If Jupiter should hurl a bolt whenever men sin,
His armory would quickly be empty.”
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)