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:
“In a cabinet of natural history, we become sensible of a certain occult recognition and sympathy in regard to the most unwieldy and eccentric forms of beast, fish, and insect.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“If Jupiter should hurl a bolt whenever men sin,
His armory would quickly be empty.”
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)