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Mark Fisher
1999-2008
70 Virginis b
‘Goldilocks’ (provisional, unofficial designation)
Proper Name
  'Goldilocks' (unofficial)
Designation
  70 Virginis b
Sidereal Period
  116.7 days
Mean Distance from 70 Virginis
  71.8 million km
  0.48 AU
  (Highly eccentric)
Sidereal Day
  Not known
Mass
  1.41 x 1031 kg
Mean Surface Temperature
  204°C
Moons
  None known
 A gigantic planet, thought to be Jovian in structure, but with about seven times the mass of Jupiter. It orbits the nearby yellow star of 70 Virginis in a somewhat closer orbit than the Earth's around the Sun. 70 Virginis b was at first nicknamed 'Goldilocks' on the basis that it might support liquid water, or even life, among its moons. More recent discoveries have made that possibility seem remote, and the 'Goldilocks' planet is now thought to be too hot for liquid water or life after all.

Image of 70 Virginis b
A new day on Goldilocks: the sun-like star 70 Virginis rises over the cloudtops of its mighty planet.
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