astronomy

HD 114762 b

HD 114762 b is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand HD 114762 b rather than just read about it. In short: HD 114762 b is a small red dwarf star in the constellation of Coma Berenices. It is an optically undetected companion to the late F-type main-sequence star HD 114762.

Key takeaways

HD 114762 b belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect HD 114762 b to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of HD 114762 b from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

HD 114762 b is a small red dwarf star in the constellation of Coma Berenices. It is an optically undetected companion to the late F-type main-sequence star HD 114762. The system is located at a distance of approximately 126 light-years (38.6 pc) from the Sun. The companion was discovered in 1989 by Latham, et al., and confirmed in an October 1991 paper by Cochran, et al. Initially, it was thought to be the first discovered exoplanet (although its existence was confirmed after those around PSR B1257+12), and was believed to be a gas giant. The object orbits the primary star every 83.9 days at an approximate distance of 0.37 AU, with an orbital eccentricity of 0.57; for comparison, this orbit is similar to that of Mercury but with almost three times the eccentricity. Based on the radial velocity measurements alone, it was estimated to have a minimum mass of 11.069±0.063 MJ (at 90°) and a probable mass of approximately 63.2 MJ (at 10°). However, analysis of its astrometric perturbation of its host star in 2019 found it to have an extremely low inclination of only 6.23+1.97−1.26 degrees, giving it a true mass of 107+20−27 MJ and putting it well outside of the range of planetary masses (less than 13 MJ). Further estimates have revised this up to 0.293 solar masses. HD 114762 b was thought for a time to be the first extrasolar planet ever detected, predating the discoveries of planets orbiting PSR B1257+12 and main-sequence star 51 Pegasi, in 1992 and 1995, respectively. However, now that it has been found to not be a planet, the planets found orbiting PSR B1257+12 were indeed the first exoplanets ever found. At an event celebrating the career of discoverer David Latham and attended by his colleagues and collaborators, the object was informally dubbed "Latham's Planet". However, this name has no official standing with the International Astronomical Union.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with HD 114762 b

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what HD 114762 b claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to HD 114762 b before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about HD 114762 b ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of HD 114762 b

In research: HD 114762 b appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses HD 114762 b in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: HD 114762 b is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Astronomical objects discovered in 1989, Coma Berenices, Disproven exoplanets, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for HD 114762 b outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study HD 114762 b in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what HD 114762 b means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain HD 114762 b out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is HD 114762 b in simple terms?

HD 114762 b is a small red dwarf star in the constellation of Coma Berenices. It is an optically undetected companion to the late F-type main-sequence star HD 114762.

Why does HD 114762 b matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study HD 114762 b?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on HD 114762 b.