41 Lyncis b (abbreviated 41 Lyn b), also designated HD 81688 b and named Arkas /ˈɑːrkəs/,[2] is an extrasolar planet approximately 280 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Ursa Major.

41 Lyncis b / Arkas
Discovery
Discovered bySato et al.[1]
Discovery siteOkayama Planet
Search Program
,
Japan
Discovery dateFebruary 19, 2008
radial velocity
Orbital characteristics
0.81 AU (121 million km)
Eccentricity0
184.02 ± 0.18 d
2,452,335.4 ± 1.1
Star41 Lyncis

A gas giant with a minimum mass 2.7 times that of Jupiter, it orbits the K-type star 41 Lyncis with an orbital period of 184 days (corresponding to a semi-major axis of 0.81 AU). It was discovered and announced by Bun'ei Sato on February 19, 2008.[1]

Name

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In July 2014, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) launched NameExoWorlds, a process for giving proper names to certain exoplanets and their host stars.[3] The process involved public nomination and voting for the new names.[4] In December 2015, the IAU announced the name Arkas for this planet.[5] The winning name was submitted by the Okayama Astro Club of Japan. Arkas was the son of Callisto (Ursa Major) in Greek mythology.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Sato, Bun'ei; et al. (2008). "Planetary Companions around Three Intermediate-Mass G and K Giants: 18 Delphini, ξ Aquilae and HD 81688". Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan. 60 (3): 539–550. arXiv:0802.2590. Bibcode:2008PASJ...60..539S. doi:10.1093/pasj/60.3.539.
  2. ^ Dictionary.com, 'Arcas'
  3. ^ NameExoWorlds: An IAU Worldwide Contest to Name Exoplanets and their Host Stars. IAU.org. 9 July 2014
  4. ^ "NameExoWorlds The Process". Archived from the original on 2015-08-15. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  5. ^ Final Results of NameExoWorlds Public Vote Released, International Astronomical Union, 15 December 2015.
  6. ^ "NameExoWorlds The Approved Names". Archived from the original on 2018-02-01. Retrieved 2015-12-17.