astronomy

Xi Aquilae b

Xi Aquilae 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 Xi Aquilae b rather than just read about it. In short: Xi Aquilae b (abbreviated ξ Aquilae b, ξ Aql b), formally named Fortitudo , is an extrasolar planet approximately 184 light-years from the Sun in the constellation of Aquila. The planet was discovered orbiting the yellow giant star Xi Aquilae in 2008.

Key takeaways

Xi Aquilae 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 Xi Aquilae b to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Xi Aquilae b from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Xi Aquilae b (abbreviated ξ Aquilae b, ξ Aql b), formally named Fortitudo , is an extrasolar planet approximately 184 light-years from the Sun in the constellation of Aquila. The planet was discovered orbiting the yellow giant star Xi Aquilae in 2008. The planet has a minimum mass of 2.8 Jupiters and a period of 137 days.

Name Following its discovery the planet was designated Xi Aquilae b. In July 2014 the International Astronomical Union (IAU) launched NameExoWorlds, a process for giving proper names to certain exoplanets and their host stars. The process involved public nomination and voting for the new names. In December 2015, the IAU announced the winning name was Fortitudo for this planet. The winning name was submitted by Libertyer, a student club at Hosei University of Tokyo, Japan. Fortitudo is Latin for 'fortitude'. Aquila is Latin for 'eagle', a symbol of fortitude—emotional and mental strength in the face of adversity.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Xi Aquilae b

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Xi Aquilae 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 Xi Aquilae 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 Xi Aquilae 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 Xi Aquilae b

In research: Xi Aquilae 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 Xi Aquilae 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: Xi Aquilae b is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Aquila (constellation), Exoplanet stubs, Exoplanets detected by radial velocity, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Xi Aquilae 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.

Ask Teacher Smith questions about this articleOpens your AI tutor with a question about “Xi Aquilae b” →

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Xi Aquilae b in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Xi Aquilae 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 Xi Aquilae b out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Xi Aquilae b in simple terms?

Why does Xi Aquilae 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 Xi Aquilae 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 Xi Aquilae b.