ARE THESE STARS LOOKING BACK AT US?
---------------------------------
John Pazmino
NYSkies Astronomy Inc
nyskies@nyskies.org
www.nyskies.org
2002 September 27 initial
2026 July 13 current
INTRODUCTION
----------
With the ongoing discovery of planets around other stars and
growing public awareness of them, I collect here a table of the more
showy of these planetary stars. I include the entire celestial sphere,
recognizing the global residences and travels of NYSkies supportrs.
A planetary star is a star hosting exoplanets or extrasolar
planets. The study of planets at other stars is displacing the term
'planetary nebula' from its use for the shell ejected by a nova. Such
a nebula has no relation to planets. The name was invented by Herschel
for the nebula's appearance as a ghostly planet disc.
'Planetary nebula' is increasingly applied to a nebula associated
with planets at a star. The nova nebula is drifting to be called a
'globular nebula', appropriate from its typical round shape.
Most of the stars hosting planets are faint and unappealing for
home astronomers. and the public. However, a surprising number are
bright enough to see by bare eye or in binoculars. NYSkies
telescopists at starviewing sessions include these stars on their
roster of targets. 0
BARE-EYE PLANETARY STARS
----------------------
I set out here some facts and figures for these bright planetary
stars. I at first listed stars with Bayer or Flamsteed names so you
can find them on binocular-level star atlases and planetarium
softwares
It happens that there are many planetary stars brighter than 6th
magnitude that somehow missed having a Bayer/Flamsteed designation.
Many of these are included here. These are likely not labeled in
smaller star atlases. You may star-hop from nearby labeled stars to
locate them.
Readers from southern latitudes pointed out an extra benefit.
Southern constellations lack a consistent Bayer/Flamsteed system. By
including these extra stars I capture a fairer portion of southern
planetary stars.
I update this article irregularly to enroll newly found bright
planetary stars and newly discovered planets at current stars. The data are
from the Extrasolar Plants Encyclopedia. Once a new star or planet is
enrolled, I update tis specs errticly. Before using the planet's specs, please
review the Encyclopedia and astronomy news for addiurnate data.
The current edition of this article is at
www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/planstar.htm
or
www.nyskies.org, then jumpword 'planetary stars'
PLANETARY STARS IN HUMAN SOCIETY
-----------------------------
Given the ardent public interest in extrasolar planets and the efforts by
astronomers to present news about them, I find it incredible that so far no
major stargazing or observing author offers planetary stars as a distinct
category of target! About the most I find is a mention in stargazing or
observing litteraturee for a few of the first-discovered bright planetary
stars.
Planetary stars are in fact perhaps he most engaging for home astronomers,
specially the bare-eye ones n this article. They actually bond jumans on Warth
with the potential of sapient sentient beings at these stars, possibly looking
back at us.
In spring 2026 a new public fervor erupted with the open dialog on
extraterrestrial craft and crew visiting us, for a closer look?, Here to fore,
since the 1950s such discussion of 'flying dsaucers' was the turf of kooks and
cranks. At mid 2026, there is no positve clues for the origin of these
apparitions. But now it is within our science to recognize a planetary star in
the sky and wonder if the people up these are visiting us?
DESCRPTION OF THE TABLE
--------------------
The planetary stars are ordered by right ascension. When a star has
several planets the star data are not repeated for each planet.
The columns 'star' thru 'spec' give the basic specs for the star
and are essentially fixed data. '---' for a star means it has no
Bayer/flamsteed name.
The HD number comes from the Henry Draper catalog, a prime source
for candidate planetary stars and the usual way to reference them.
SPEC is the spectral and luminosity class of the star. The
luminosity class, ususally a Roman number, is here a decimal. For 51
Pegasi the 'G2.4' means 'G2 IV'.
PC is the star's distance, rounded to the whole parsec.
SUN is the apparent magnitude of Sun as seen from the star. This
is (Sun app magn) = 5 * log(pc) - (0.2). This is the distance modulus
formula with the Sun's absolute magnitude of +4.8. As an example, the
Sun seen from 51 Pegasi (Sun at 51 Peg) = 5 * log(14.7pc) - (0.2) =
(+5.6).
MJUP is the planet's mass in Jupiter units. The value is (true
mass)*sin(orbit inclination). The planet could be far more massive
when the inclination is not known. Some references cite mass in Earth
units. Jupiter mass is 318 Earth mass.
SMA is the semimajor axis of the planet's orbit, or mean distance
from its central star, in AU. Do mind well that the planet may run in
a strongly excentric orbit, not closely circular like the planets
of our solar system.
PERIOD is the planet's orbital period, its year, in Earth days.
YEAR is when the planet was announced. This typicly is the end of
a many-year study of the planet to establish its properties.
Following the table are comments about some of the stars some
statistics about the stars and planets.
This table here is still the ONE AND ONLY consolidated source for
bright planetary stars to show the public by eye or binoculars. Other
lists of planetary stars for this purpose include faint hard-to-find
stars or are utterly ediurante with only a few e1144arlier announced stars.
TABLE OF BARE-EYE PLANETARY STARS
-------------------------------
STAR CNS HD-NUM RA--2000--DE MAG SPEC PC SUN MJUP SMA PERIOD YEAR
---- --- ------ ------------ --- ---- --- --- ----- ---- ------ ----
--- Phe 142 00 06 -49 05 5.7 G1.4 21 6.4 1.03 1 339 2001
54 Psc 3651 00 39 +21 16 5.8 K0.5 11 5.0 0///.2 0.28 62.2 2003
--- Cet 4732 00 49 -24 08 5.0 K0.4 57 8.5 2.37 1.19 360.2 2013
2.37 4.6 2732.0 2013
--- And 5608 00 58 +33 57 6.0 K0.4 58 8.6 1.4 1.9 792.6 2012
eta Cet 6805 01 09 -10 11 3.5 K1.3 38 7.7 2.55 1.27 403.5 2014
3.32 1.93 751.9 2014
ups And 9826 01 37 +41 25 4.1 F8.5 13 5.4 0.62 0.06 4.6 1996
0.01 1.8 240.4 1999
23.6 2.55 1281.4 1999
1.06 5.25 3848.7 2010
q1 Eri 10647 01 43 -53 44 5.5 F8.5 17 6.0 0.93 2.03 1003 2003
tau Cet 10700 01 44 -15 56 3.5 G9.5 4 2.8 0.06 0.11 14.0 2012
0.01 0.20 35.4 2012
0.01 0.37 94.1 2012
0.01 1.34 636.4 2012
0.12 0.54 62.9 2012
0.01 0.13 35.3 2017
0.01 0.24 49.4 2017
109 Psc 10697 01 45 +20 05 6.3 G5.4 33 7.4 6.8 2.05 1075.4 1999
eta2 Hyi 11977 01 55 -67 39 4.7 G8.5 67 8.9 6.54 1.93 711 2005
iot Hor 47051 02 03 -50 48 5.4 G0.5 17 6.0 ---- 0.93 320.1 1999
alp Ari 12929 02 07 +23 28 2.0 K2.3 20 6.3 1.8 1.2 380.8 2011
75 Cet 15779 02 32 -01 07 5.4 G3.3 82 9.4 0.08 1.91.656.6 2012
0.91 3.932052.0 2023
79 Cet 16141 02 35 -03 34 6.8 G5.4 36 7.6 0.23 0.35 75.6 2000
30B Ari 16232 02 37 +24 59 7.1 F6.5 39 7.8 9.88 0.995 335.1 2009
lam2 For 16417 02 37 -34 35 5.8 G1.5 26 6.8 0.07 0.14 17.2 2009
81 Cet 16400 02 38 -03 24 5.7 G5.3 97 9.7 5.3 2.5 952.7 2008
iot Hor 17051 02 43 -50 48 5.4 G0.5 16 6.0 2.26 0.93 320 1999
--- For 17926 02 52 -30 49 6.4 F8.432012.3 --- 0.05 3.6 2019
---- 0.07 6.0 2019
--- 0.40 11. 2019
lam2 For 16417 02 57 -34 35 5.8 G1.8 26 6.8 0.05 0.14 17.2 2019
94 Cet 19994 03 13 -01 11 5.1 F8.5 22 6.5//1.37 1.31 466.2 2000
e Eri 20794 03 20 -43 04 4.3 G8.5 6 3.7 0.01 0.12 18.3 2011
0.01 0.20 40.1 2011
0.02 1.35 648.2 2011
0.02 0.51 147.0 2017
sig Per 21552 03 31 +48 00 4.4 K3.3103 9.9 6.5 1.8 579.8 2014
eps Eri 22049 03 33 -09 27 3.7 K2.5 3 2.3 1.55 3.5 2674 2000
0.1 40 9999 2003
- -- Eri 25723 04 04 -12 48 5.6 k1.3113 SUN 2.84 1.49 456.7 2020
1.33 4.35 2369.8 2020
eps Ret 27442 04 17 -59 18 4.4 K2.4 18 6.1 1.35 1.16 415.2 2000
c Eri 29391 04 18 -02 28 5.2 F0.5 29 7.1 7.0 14.0 9999 2015
eps Tau 28305 04 29 +19 11 3.5 K0.3 45 8.1 7.6 1.93 594.9 2007
alp Tau 29139 04 36 +16 30 0.9 K5.3 20 6.1 6.47 1.42 629.0 1998
--- Eri 30562 04 49 -05 40 5.8 F8.5 27 6.9 1.29 2.3 1157 2009
51 Eri 29391 04 38 -02 28 5.2 F0.5 29 7.0 4.1 11.1 9999 2015
--- Cam 33564 05 23 +79 14 5.1 F6.5 31 7.3 9.1 1.1 388 2005
pi Men 39091 05 37 -80 28 5.7 G0.5 18 6.1 12.6 3.31 2088.3 2001
0.02 0.10 18.9 2020
0.024 ---- 124.6 2022
--- Ori 38529 05 46 +01 10 5.9 G4.4 40 7.8 0.78 0.13 14.3 2000
17.7 3.70 2134.8 2002
0.17 0.74 193.9 2010
--- Ori 38858 05 49 -04 06 6.0 G4.5 15 5.7 0.10 1.04 407.2 2011
bet Pic 39060 05 47 -51 04 3.9 A6.5 19 6.2 11.9 9.9 7707.0 2008
8.89 2.68 1227.0 2019
2.40 26.0 ----- 2025
6 Lyn 45410 06 31 +58 10 5.9 K0.4 57 8.6 2.4 2.2 899 2008
nu2 CMa 47205 06 37 -19 15 4.0 K1.3 20 6.3 1.90 1.76 736.0 2011
0.06 2.14 988.9 2019
--- CMa 47536 06 38 -32 20 5.3 K1.312110.2 5 1.61 430 2003
7 --- 2500 2007
tau Gem 54719 07 11 +30 15 4.4 K2.3 92 9.6 20.6 1.17 306 2004
12 Pup 55699 07 14 -41 38 5.0 M5.3 64 7.8 12.2 22.2 ---- 2016
--- Gem 59686 07 32 +17 05 5.5 K2.3 92 9.6 5.25 0.91 303 2003
--- Pup 60532 07 34 -22 18 4.5 F6.4 26 6.8 3.15 0.77 201.8 2008
7.46 1.58 607.1 2008
bet Gem 62509 07 45 +28 02 1.2 K0.3 10 4.9 2.9 1.69 589.6 2006
---- Pup 69123 08 14 -35 29 5.8 ---- 75 9.2 3.04 2.48 1193.3 2022
3 Cnc 65759 08 01 +17 19 5.3 K3.324311.7 20.76 2.52 853.6 2020
--- CMi 66141 08 02 +02 20 4.4 K2.3 81 7.3 6 1.2 480.5 2012
--- Pup 69123 08 14 -35 29 5.8 K1.3 75 9.2 3.04 2.48 193.3 2022
-- Pup 69830 08 18 -12 38 6.0 K0.5 13 5.3 0.03 0.08 8.7 2006
0.04 0.19 31.6 2006
omi UMa 71369 08 30 +60 43 3.4 G4.2 56 8.5 4.1 3.9 1630 2012
pi2 UMa 73108 08 40 +64 20 4.6 K1.3 62 8.8 7.1 0.87 269.3 2007
rho1 Cnc 75732 08 53 +28 20 6.0 G8.5 13 5.4 0.84 0.11 14.7 1996
0.17 0.24 44.4 2001
3.86 5.45 4867.0 2001
0.03 0.02 0.7 2004
0.15 0.77 26+.0 2007
--- UMa 81688 09 29 +45 36 5.4 K0.3 89 9.5 2.7 0.81 184.0 2008
mu Leo 85503 09 53 +26 00 3.9 K2.3 38 7.7 2.4 1.1 357.8 2014
gam1 Leo 89484 10 20 +19 50 2.0 K0.3 39 7.7 8.78 1.19 428.5 2009
---- UMa 89744 10 22 +41 14 5.7 F7.5 40 7.8 10.39 0.92 256.2 2000
---- 8.9 5574 2013
24 Sex 90043 10 23 -00 54 6.4 G5.5 75 9.2 1.94 1.33 452.8 2010
1.52 2.08 883 2010
44 UMa 94247 10 57 +65 35 5.1 K3. 200 17.3 12.11 12.16 785.7 2020
iot Ant 94890 10 57 -37 08 4.6 K0.3 62 8.9 ---- 2.1 824.6 2025
--- 4.3 2492.2 2025
47 UMa 95128 10 59 +40 26 5.0 G0.5 14 5.5 2.53 2.1 1078 1996
0.54 3.6 2391 2001
1.64 11.6 9999 2010
83 Leo 99492 11 27 +03 00 6.5 K2.5 18 6.1 0.11 0.12 17.0 2004
0.36 5.4 4970 2010
ups Leo 100920 11 37 -00 49 4.3 G9.3 57 7.9 0.51 1.18 85.2 2021
--- Cen 102365 11 47 -40 30 4.9 G2.5 9 4.6 0.05 0.46 122.1 2011
bet UMi 131873 11 51 +74 09 2.1 K4.3 40 7.8 6.1 1.4 522.3 2014
--- Cam 104985 12 05 +76 24 5.8 G9.3102 9.8 6.3 0.78 198.2 2003
---- 106574 12 15 +70 12 5.8 K2.3143 ---- 2.2 1065.7 2018
11 Com 107383 12 21 +17 48 4.7 G8.311110.0 16.13 1.29 326.1 2008
chi Vir 110014 12 39 -08 00 4.6 K2.3 90 9.6 11.1 2.14 835.5 2009
38 Vir 111998 12 53 -03 33 6.1 F6.5 31 7.3 4.5 1.8 825.9 2016
del Vir 112300 12 56 +03 24 3.4 M3.3 61 15.8 1.33 466.6 2023
--- Dra 113337 13 01 +63 37 6.0 F6.5 37 7.6 3.1 1 .03 323.4 2013
7.2 4.8 8624.7 2018
61 Vir 115617 13 18 -18 19 4.7 G5.5 9 4.5 0.02 0.05 4.2 2009
0.05 0.22 38.0 2009
0.07 0.48 123.0 2009
70 Vir 117176 13 28 +13 47 5.0 G4.5 22 6.5 8.0 0.4 16.7 1996
tau Boo 120136 13 47 +17 27 4.5 F7.5 15 5.7 4.5 0.05 3.3 1996
--- Hya 122430 14 02 -27 25 5.5 K3.313510.5 3.71 1.02 345.0 2003
24 Boo 127243 14 28 +49 50 5.6 G3.4100 9.8 0.91 0.19 30.4 2018
alpC Cen ------ 14 30 -62 4111.1 M5.5 1 0.4 0.00 0.05 11.2 2016
0.02 1.48 1928.0 2019
alp2 Cen 128621 14 40 -60 50-0.2 K1.5 1 0.4 0.00 0.04 3.2 2012
b Cen 129116 14 42 -37 48 4.0 B3.5 90 9.5 10.9 556.0 9999 2021
8 UMi 133086 14 57 +74 54 6.8 K0.015910.8 1.5 0.49 83.4 2015
23 Lib 134987 15 13 -25 19 6.5 G5.5 25 6.9 1.59 0.81 258.2 1999
0.82 5.8 5000 2009
11 UMi 136726 15 17 +71 49 5.0 K4.312011.2 11.08 1.54 516.2 2009
nu2 Lup 136352 15 22 -48 19 5.7 G4.5 15 5.7 0.02 0.09 11.6 2011
0.04 0.17 27.6 2011
0.03 0.42 107.1 2011
iot Dra 137759 15 25 +58 58 3.3 K2.3 32 7.3 16.4 1.48 510.9 2002
omi CrB 136512 15 35 +26 43 5.5 K0.3 84 9.4 1.5 0.83 187.3 2012
gam Lib 138905 15 36 -14 47 3.0 K0.3 50 8.3 0.29 1.24 415.2 2018
4.63 2.18 964.6 2018
lam Ser 141004 15 46 +07 21 4.4 G0.5 12 0.04 0.12 15.5 2021
ome Ser 141680 15 50 +02 12 5.2 G8.3 81 9.3 1.7 1.1 277.0 2013
kap CrB 142091 15 51 +35 39 4.8 K1.4 31 7.3 1.8 2.6 1251 2007
eps CrB 143107 15 58 +26 53 4.1 K2.3 68 9.0 6.7 1.3 417.9 2012
rho CrB 143761 16 01 +33 19 5.4 G0.5 17 6.0 1.09 0.23 39.8 1997
0.08 0.41 102.5 2016
14 Her 145675 16 10 +43 49 6.6 K0.5 18 6.1 5.22 2.77 1773.4 1998
2.09 5.81 --- 2005
5.8 16.4 6906 2006
chi Sco 145897 16 14 -11 50 5.2 K3.3116 9.9 4.52 1.45 528.4 2020
---- Sco 147513 16 24 -39 12 5.4 G3.5 13 5.4 1 1.26 540.4 2003
psi1 Dra 162004 17 42 +72 09 5.7 G0.5 22 6.5 1.53 4.43 3117.0 2015
mu Ara 160691 17 44 -51 50 5.2 G3.4 15 5.7 1.68 1.5 643.3 2000
0.03 0.09 9.6 2003
0.52 0.92 310.6 2004
1.81 5.24 4205.8 2006
-- Oph 999999 17 58 +04 42 9.5 M4.5 2 1.3 0.01 0.40 232.8 2018
nu Oph 163917 17 59 -09 46 3.3 G9.3 47 8.2 24.2 1.79 529.9 2004
2.41 5.933175.2 2010
42 Dra 170693 18 26 +65 34 4.8 K1.3 97 9.7 3.88 1.19 479.1 2009
--- Sgr 169830 18 28 -29 49 5.9 F8.5 36 7.6 2.88 0.81 255.6 2000
4.04 3.6 2102 2003
--- Lyr 176051 18 57 +32 54 5.2 F9.5 16 5.8 1.5 1.76 1016 2010
59 Dra 180777 19 08 +76 34 5.1 A9.5 27 7.0 25.0 0.22 28.4 2016
eta Tel 181286 19 23 -54 25 5.0 A0.5 48 8.1 54.2143.0 9999 2010
---- Vul 184010 19 31 +26 37 5.9 K0.3 64 8.9 ---- 1.33 483.3 2022
---- 1.92 27.7 2022
--- 0.94 286.6 2022
16 Cyg 186427 19 42 +50 31 6.0 G2.5 21 6.5 1.68 1.68 799.5 1996
xi Aql 188310 19 54 +08 57 4.7 G9.3 63 8.8 2.8 0.68 136.8 2008
15 Sge 190406 20 04 +17 04 5.8 G0.5 17 6.0 61.5 14.0 ---- 2002
--- Cyg 190360 20 04 +29 54 5.7 G6.4 16 5.8 1.50 3.92 2867.9 2003
. 0.06 0.13 17.1 2005
--- Cap 192310 20 15 -27 02 5.7 K3.5 9 4.5 0.08 1.18 525.8 2011
--- Del 196885 20 40 +11 15 6.4 F8.5 33 7.4 3.0 2.6 1326 2007
mu2 Oct 196067 20 42 -75 21 6.0 G0.5 44 8.0 7.1 --- 4100 2011
---- 0.06. 4.9 2025
18 Del 199665 20 58 +10 50 5.5 G6.3 73 9.1 10.3 2.68 993.3 2008
gam Psc 19615 21 17 +03 17 3.7 F9.3 43 8.7 1.34 1.32 555.1 2021
nu Oct 205478 21 41 -77 23 308 K1.2 22 5.9 2.13 1.25 409.3 2009
eps Ind 209400 22 03 -56 47 4.7 K2.5 4 2.8 6.3 11.08 9999 2018
--- Peg 210702 22 12 +16 02 5.9 K1.3 56 8.5 1.9 1.2 354.8 2007
tau1 Gru 216435 22 54 -48 36 6.0 G0.5 33 7.4 1.26 2.56 1311 2002
rho Ind 216437 22 55 -70 04 6.4 G4.4 27 6.9 1.82 2.32 1256 2002
51 Peg 217014 22 57 +20 46 5.5 G2.4 15 5.6 0.61 0.05 4.2 1995
10.00 37.0 ---- 2011
alp PsA 216956 22 58 -29 37 1.2 A3.5 8 4.2 2 115 9999 2008
--- Peg 218396 23 07 +21 08 6.0 A5.5 39 7.8 7 68 9999 2008
10 38 9999 2008
10 24 9999 2008
9.6 16.4 9999 2010
---- Cas 219134 23 13 +57 10 5.6 K3.5 7 4.0 0.04 0.04 3.7 2015
3.01 0.06 6.8 2015
0.05 0.25 46.7 2015
0.22 2.56 1842.0 2015
0.03 0.14 22.8 2015
0.03 0.38 94.2 2015
0.34 3.06 2198.0 2015
---- Peg 219139 23 13 +11 04 5.9 K0.3 65 8.8 ---- 0.94 225.4 2021
psi1 Aqr 219449 23 16 -09 05 4.2 K0.3 46 8.1 3.32 0.7 181.4 2003
14 And 221345 23 31 +39 14 5.2 K0.3 76 9.2 4.68 0.83 185.8 2008
gam Cep 222404 23 39 +77 38 3.2 K2.5 14 5.5 1.85 2.05 903.3 2002
--- Oct 221420 23 33 -77 23 5.8 G2.4 32 7.3 9.7 --- 9999 2019
kap And 222439 23 41 +44 20 4.2 B9.4 52 8.4 47.0 78.9 9999 2013
------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES FOR SELECTED PALNETARY STARS, rgrouped by ight ascensioon bands
-------------------------------------------------------------------
===== RA 00h-02h =====
HD142 Phoenicis is about 1/2 between eps Phe nd pi Phe and ~1 deg W of tau
Phe. Other names: TYC8025-341-1, SAO214963, PPM304555, CD-49:14337, HR6, CPD-
49:11858
54 Piscium is the southwestern star of the pair 54 & 55 Psc
HD4732 Ceti is 1/2 beteeen bet Cet (Diphda) and alp Scl. The W
side of a triangle between it and bet Cet points to it. The star is a
binary with the planets at the primary component. Other names: CD-
24:245, HR228, TYc6241-1078-1, PPM243277, SAO166602.
HD5806 Andromedae is 2/3 from del And to bet And. Other names:
SAO54306, TYC2285-553-1, HR275, PPM65815, BD+33:0140.
upsilon Andromedae in 1999 was found to have two more planets, the
first other star with a true 'solar system'. In 2010 the orbits of the
two 1999 planets were found to be about 30 degrees inclined from each
other, making ups And the first instance of a planetary system with so
steeply dispersed orbit planes. ups And is sometimes mistaken for eps
And, an other star.
q1 Eridani is the western of a pair with q2 Eri, about 4 deg N of
alp Eri (Achernar).
tau Ceti, with epsilon Eridani, was the first serious candidates
to extrasolar planets. Several planets were announced in 2012, all
very small and close to the star. It became the first 8-planet star in
this table with an other tiny close planet found in 2017. Ttau Ceti
was the first 9-planet star in 2019 with a large far planet. tau Ceti
is a celestial neighbor of epsilon Eridani, with several sci-fi
advantures between the two.
109 Piscium is sometimes misnamed as 106 Psc, nu Psc, a wrong
star. 109 sits about 1 deg ESE from 107 Psc and is easiest approached
from downtown Aries.
alpha Arietis (Hamal) is in downtown Aries with bet & gam Ari.
79 Ceti is not labeled in many charts. It is about 1/2 deg W of 81
Cet, between omi Cet (Mira) and Caput Ceti. 81 Cet is an other
planetary star in this table, making 79 & 81 Cet the closest angular
spacing between planetary stars. Linearly 79 Cet is about 22LY closer
than 81 Cet.
30B Arietis is 1/2 between alp Ari (Hamal) and the Pleiades. The A
star is HD16246. The magnitude of the pair is 6.2.
81 Ceti is the brighter and eastern of the pair 79 & 81 Ceti. it
is usually labeled, while 79 Cet, an other planetary star in this
table, is not. They are only 1/2 degree apart, the closest angular
spacing between planetary stars. They are linearly well separated, 81
Cet being about 221LY farther away than 79.
HD17926 Fornacis is in the center of triangle alp-bet-gam For, the
brighter of two stars there. Altho it is a bit fainter than 6.0 magn,
it has three planets, all within a zone 7.5-15.0 million km from
their star. Other names: CD-31:01148, HR858, TYC7012-833-1, PPM27844.
===== RA 03h-05h =====
e Eridani is about 5 deg SE of the Eri.
sigma Persei is a perspective or alignment double str, not a true
binary. The line-of-sight companion has no attachment to it. Some
authors mistakenly call this star 'sigma A' as the primary member of a
binary system.
HD 25723 Eridani is anout 2 deg NE of gam Eri and is the E star in row of
3 5th magn stars about 1 deg N of gam Eri. Other names: PPM213806, TYC5311-
364-1, SAO49351, BD-13:0806, HR1265.
epsilon Eridani was, with tau Ceti, the first serious candidates
in the 1960s for extraterrestrial intelligence. The second planet is
uncertain, with a period of 102,270 days, about 280 years. The
'9999' in the table is an overflow. The inner planet rounded its
periastron during 2007, when it could have been opticly imaged. As at 2026 no
such iamge was obtained. Fomalhaut, alp PsA, in 2008 became the first star to
have its planet opticly photographed. Star HR8799 has the first planet ever
imaged, in infrared, earlier in 2008.
epsilon Tauri (Ain) is at the end of the northern 'horn' of the
Hyades. Of the planetary stars in this table it is the only one as a
member of a star cluster.
alpha Tauri (Aldebaran) is in front of the Hyades at 20pc distance
but itcompletes the cluster's 'V'' shaoe. The planet was first
reported in 1998, then held in 'unconfirmed' status due to erratic
radial velocity measurements. In 2015 it was offered again with more
convincing data. Aldebaran's oscillations as a pulsating giant star
confused the observations.
c Eridani, also 51 Eri, is W of mu Rri and N of nu Eri, making a
eight triangle with them.
51 Eridani is about 1 deg N of nu E8i. The pweios ia 10620 day;
'999' is an overflow. Planet specs for 51 Eri undergoed drastic
revisions since discovery.
HD30562 Eridani is 4 deg S of mu Eri and 2 deg W of ome Eri. Other
names: HR1536, TYC4748-1630-1, SAO131504, PPM187358, BD-5:1044
HD33564 Camelopardalis is in an empty part of sky with no
convenient star-hop to it. It is roughly 2/5 from alp UMi (Polaris)
and alp Cam. Other names: TYC4532-2096-1, PPM5936, BD+79:169, SAO5496,
HR1686
HD38529 Orionis is about 2/5 from zet Ori (Anilam) to alp Ori
(Betelgeuse) and is the obvious star betwwn 51 & 56 Ori. Other names:
HR1988, TYC116-1316-1, PPM149432, BD+1:1126, SAO113119
HD38858 Orionis is 1/3 from kap Ori (Saiph) to alp Ori
(Betelgeuse) and is the east one of the pair at this spot. Other
names: TYC4776-1306-1, PPM188472, BD-4:1244, HR1007, SAO132554
===== RA 06h-08h =====
beta Pictoris was long known to have a dust disc that could hide a planet.
The first planet was imaged with the VLT in near infrared. By 2010 continued
imaging showed motion of the planet thru about 1/2 of its orbit.
HD69123 Puppis is 1/2 gtom pi Pup to bet Pyx, the northern and
dimmest in 2d long N-S roe of stars. Other names: TYC-7129-4637-1,
PPM284973, CD -35:04365
6 Lyncis is in an empty part of sky with few other attractions. It
now is an interesting waypoint between Auriga and Ursa Major.
HD47536 Canis Majoris is about 2/5 from kap CMa to zet CMa and 1/2
between lam CMa and kap CMa. Other nanmes: SAO197019, CD-32:3216,
TYC7091-1257-1, PPM282919, CPD-32:01260, HR2447, SAO197019
tau Geminorum's planet was announced in 2004 but confirmed in 2010
HD59686 Geminorum is about 1/2 from bet CMi (Gomeisa) to bet Gem
(Pollux), about 5 deg E of kap Gem, about 2 deg N of 68 Gem. Other
names: TYC1364-1582-1, PPM124127, HR2877, SAO96985 , BD+17:1596
HD60532 Puppis is anout 2/5 from rho Pup to alp CMa. Other names:
SAO174009, HR2906, TYC5991-217-1, PPM252677, BD-21:2007
beta Geminorum (Pollux) marks the head of the southern twin. The
planet runs in a nearly circular orbit, e = 0.02, It was suspected
since 1993 but confirmed in July 2006.
HD66141 Canis Minoris is 1/2 from alp CMi (Procyon) to 1 & 2
Hya and 1 deg E of 14 CMi. Other names: BD+02:154, PPM153760, HR3145,
SAO116260, TYC198-2137-1.
HD69830 Puppis is about 2/5 from 22 Pup to 19 Pup, a bit N of that
line, the only obvious star at this point. Other names: HR3259, BD-
12:2449, PPM219933, SAO154093, TYC5435-2991-1.
HD69123 Puppis is2/3 from pi Pup to bet Pyx, the NE fainter of
pair. Other names: TYC 7129-4637-1, PPM 284973, CD -35:04365,
CPD -35:02079
omicron Ursae Majoris (Muscida) is the brightest star in Ursa
Major outside of the Big Dipper. It stands out in the empty region
between Big Dipper and Gemini & Auriga.
pi2 Ursae Majoris, 4 Ursae Majoris, is the southeastern of an arc
of three stars: 2 UMa, pi1 UMa, pi2 UMa.
==== RA 09h-11h ====
rho1 Cancri is also 55 Cancri. The Bayer letters are a bit inconsistent
among authors in this part of Cancer. rho1 (55) is the northeastern one of the
pair 53 and 55. The planet found in 2004 has semimajor axis of 0.038 AU, or
5.68 million kilometers. The table value is rounded.
gaama1 Leonis (Algieba) is one of the more showy double stars. The
primary is the planetary star.
HD81688 Ursae Majoris is 2/5 from kap UMato lam UMa. Other catalog
names: SAO42876, TYC3425-1596-1, PPM51268, BD+46:1509, HR3743,
HD89744 Ursae Majoris is 1/2 deg S of mu UMa (Tania Australis).
Other names: SAO43309, HR4067, TYC3004-578-1, PPM51848, BD+41:2076
24 Sextantis is not labeled in many charts. It's about 2 deg W of
bet Sex. A star of similar brightness is halfway between the two. The
two planets are in a 2:1 period resonance, the 1st example in this
table of orbit resonance beyond our solar system.
47 Ursae Majoris passes almost thru the zenith of New York City.
The second planet is still uncertain. The third planet's period is
14,002 day; the '9999' entry is an overflow.
83 Leonis is often not labeled on charts. It sits 1/2 deg NW of
tau Leo as the firt in an arc of several stars extnding NW. It is a
binary with the planets at the B member, of magnitude 7.4. The primary
83A Leo is HD99491, magn 6.5, about the total brightness of the pair.
Other names for the B star: BD+03:2503, SAO118865, TYC267-3200-1,
PPM157866.
HD102365 Centauri is ~1-1/2 from eps Cen thru gam Cen, and once
from bet Cru thru del Cen. Other names: TYC7745-1381-1,CD-39: 07301,
CPD-39:05265, SAO223020, HR4523
==== RA 12h-14h =====
HD104985 Camelopardalis is ~2/5 from kap Dra to alp UMi and ~3 times
beyond gam (Pherkad) to bet (Kochab) UMi. It is the southern of a pair of
stars. Other names: TYC4550-2113-1, PPM8082, BD+77:461 HR4609, SAO7500
HD113337 Draconis isonce from 7 Dra to 8 Dra, the only vicinity
star. Other names: SAO15962. TYC 4186-541-1, OOM18458, BD+64:09827
61 Virginis is 1/2 between alp Vir (Spica) and gam Hya. Its
planets are superearths. Planet b is 5.1 Earth mass: c, 18.2; d, 22.9.
HD122430 Hydrae is ~1 deg SW of pi Hya. Other catalog names:
SAO182182, TYC-6737-83-1, PPM262401, CD-26:10060, CPD-26:5147, HR5265
alpha2 Centauri (Toliman) is the dimmer component in the main
alp1-alp2 binary and hosts the 2012 planet. The HD number is for
alp2. alp1 is HD128620. The listed magnitude is for the pair. alp2 is
magn +1.3. The planet mass is 0.0036 Jupiter, 1.14 Earth. The table
figure is an underflow. In 2016 a planet was announced at the third
member of the system, alphaC, described under its own entry. alpha
Centauri is the first star with planets at more than one member of its
system.
b Centauri isunlabeled in some atlases. It is 1/2 from the Cen to
bet Lup or from the Cen to psi Cen and twice beyond and is the oblblu
obvious star at this location. '9999' for period is overflow. Str
period is 1,800,000.0 days! Other names: TYC-7819-2819-1, CPD--
35:02079, PPM292953, CD-37:09618, CPD-37:06185
alpha-C Centauri (Proxima) is the third member of the alpha
Centauri system and hosts its own planets, first announced in 2016.
Proxima is a red dwarf, 11th magn, often overlooked against its
prominent A-B companions. The 0.00 mass for two planets is an
underflow. The 2016 planet is 0.004 Jupiter; 2020, 0 003. The 2019
planet is 0.0182 Jupitrr. Because Proxima is on the front side of its
orbit around the A-B pair, it is the closest planetary star known, by
about it ts one light-month closer thqn alpha A & 2B., The alpha
Centauri system is the first planetary star with planets at different
members.
8 Ursae Minoris is usually not labeled, being a fainter Flamsteed
star. It is in a close pair 1/5 from bet UMi to the UMI and at the
right angle of triangle with bet UMi and 5 Umi. Of the two stars
8 UMi is the star nearer to the or the outer one in the bet-5
triangle.
11 Ursae Minoris is ~1/2 deg W of gam UMi (Pherkad).
=== RA 15h-17h =====
14 Herculis is not labeled in many charts. It is about one deg SE from phi
Her. Its second planet, reported in 2005, is still uncertain.
HD147513 Scorpii is ~1/2 from eta Lup to mu2 Sco. Other names:
HR6094, SAO207622, TYC7853-621-1, PPM295007,CD-38:10983, CPD-38:06407
psi1 Draconus is a triple star with the planet at member B. The A
member is HD162003 and the ttotal magnitude of the system is 4.6.
nu Ophiuchi's first planet was announced in 2005 but confirmed in
2010. The second planet was announced in 2010.
HD999999 Ophiuchi is Barnard's Star, having no HD designation. The
'999999' is a placeholder. The star was suspected of having planets
since the 1950s with a few false alarms until 2018. Altho the star is
not 'bright', magn +9.5, home astronomers observe it for its large
proper motion. It races at some 12 arcsec/yr northward. The star is
in the Summer Hyades, or Taurus Poniatowski, asterism. Coordinates as-
of-date are needed to plot finder charts, else star in the sky is
noticeably displaced. The listed coordinates, rounded, are for 2000.
Other names: BD+04:3561a,TYC425-2502-1, Velox Barnardi, proxima
Ophiuchi, Runaway Star.
=== RA 18h-20h ===
HD169830 Sagittarii is ~1/2 from lam Sgr to eps Sgr and 2 deg E of del
Sgr. Other catalog names: TYC6869-1277-1, CD-29:14965, CPD-29:5565,
PPM268436, HR6907, SAO186838
HD176501 Lyrae is 1 deg NW of gam Lyr and is the first non-
Bayer/Flamsteed star in this table. Star is a binary but the which
component has the planet is uncertain. The spectral class is a
placeholder until further data is known. Other names: PPM82082,
SAO67612, BD+32:3267, TYC2643-3345-1, HR7162
eta Telescopii has period of 804,000 day. The '9999' is an overflow.
HD184010 Vulpeculae is 4/10 from bet Cyg to alp Vul, only star near this
point. Other names: TYC 2133-2965-1, PPM 109158, D +26:573
16 Cygni is occasionally mixed up with 61 Cygni, the first star
whose remoteness was certainly measured. 16 is near the Cyg, the
western wing of the swan. 61 is near sig & tau Cyg, in the eastern
wing. The planet is at the B compnonet of this binary star.
15 Sagittae is 1/2 from zet Sge to rho Aql, the middle brighter of
the couple stars there. Its planet b is the most masssive planet in
this table, 61.5 Jupiters. Discovered in 2002 , confirmed in 2020.
xi Aquilae, also spelled ksi Aquilae, is 1/5 from alp Aql
(Altair) to bet Aql (Alshain).
HD190360 Cygni is about 1/2 from eps Cyg to bet (Albireo) Cyg.
Other names: TYC2153-2883-1, PPM110318, BD+29:3872, SAO88133, HR7670
HD192310 Capricorni is 2/3 from ome Cap to ome Sgr, the only
obvious star at this spot. Other names: HR7722, CD-27:14659,
PPM270900, SAO189065, TYC6914-1943-1. A previously planet, b, was
retracted, leaving onlythe present one, c.
HD196885 Delphini is about 1/2 deg ESE of iot Del and is a binary
star. The A component has the planet. Other names: HR7907, SAO106360,
TYC1092-1778-1, PPM138799, BD+10:4351
18 Delphini is 1/2 between alp Equ and alp Del. gam Equ and del
Equ, prolonged westward, aim almost directly at it.
===== RA 21h-23h =====
epsilon A Indi is one of the nearest stars, 3.6 pc awway, and has high
proper motion, about 4 arcsec/yr. It is a binary with a brown dwarf comes. The
planet orbits the visible component. '9999' for the period is overfloe, period
id 15,676.6 day.
HD210702 Pegasi is ~1/2 between eps and lam Peg and ~1/2 between
xi and 9 Peg. Other names: TYC1681-1751-1, SAO107729, HR8461,
PPM141171, BD+15:4592
51 Pegasi is THE FIRST BRIGHT PLANETARY STAR, one with a Bayer or
Flamsteed designation. Planetary stars before 51 Peg were beyond easy
reach of binoculars.
HD219134 Cassiopeiae is about 1/2 between del Cep and rho Cas, the
brightest among the few stars at this spot. Its seven planets, all
found within 2015, is the largest planet system in this table. It has
proper motion of about 2 arcsec/yer, detectable by comparing large-
scaleimages a few yers apart. Planet b may be a rocky world, the
closest to our solar system. Other names: BD+56:2966, HR8832, TYC4006-
1866-1, SAO35236, PPM41159.
alpha Piscis Austrini (Fomelhaut) has a dust disc known since
1998. The planet was found by HST imaging and is THE FIRST PLANET TO
BE OPTICLY DETECTED. The period is 872 year. '9999' in the table is an
overflow. The planet is the least luminous object ever found outside
the solar system. Star HD218396 Pegasi had its planet imaged in
infrared wavelength a few months earlier.
HD218396 Pegasi is 4/10 from alp Peg to bet Peg and 2 deg E of 51
Peg. Its three 2008 planets were THE FIRST PLANETS EVER PHOTOGRAPHED,
in near infrared by Keck Obsy in Sep 2008. This feat was followed
later in 2008 by imaging the alpha Piscis Austrini planet with HST in
the optical band. The periods are overflows. Planet b is 170,000 days;
c, 69,000; d, 36,500; e, 18,000. Other names: BD+20:5278, HR8799,
PPM115157, SAO91022, TYC1718-2350-1.
HD219139 Pegasiis 1/2 Pegm eho Peg to 70 Peg, SE of alp Peg. Other names:
TYC 1164-1735-1, PPM 142290, BD +10:4902
psi1 Aquarii, or 91 Aqr, is the western of three stars with psi2
and psi3 Aqr.
gamma Cephei's (Errai) planet was announced in 2002. Some sources
say 2003, a typo.
1HD221420 Octantis is 1/3 from the Oct to psi Oct. The orbital
period is 22,482 day. '9999' in the table is an overflow. Other names:
TYC4981-244-1l CPD-78:1473; SAO258154; HR8953
kappa Andromedae is in the Gloria Frederica asterism with iot,
lam, and psi And. Its period is 152205 day; the '9999'is an overflow.
=================================================================
STATISTICS FOR THE PLANETARY STARS
-----------------------------------
I gather a few statistics about the stars and planets.These data
apply ONLY to the entries here, in this table, not all of the known
planetary stars.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Planetary Stars
---------------
item | star | year | value
---------------------+--------------+------+------
total stars |29 stars | 20026 | with 196 9planets
first member in list | 51 PPeg | 1995 | 1st Flamsteed/Bayer
first 2-planet star | ups And | 1999 | with 3rd planet
first 3-planet star | ups And | 1999 | with 2nd planet
first 4-planet star | rho1 Cnc | 2004 |
first 5-planet star | rho1 Cnc | 2007 |
first 6-planet star | HD219134 Cas | 2015 | with 7th planet
first 7-planet star | HD219134 Cas | 2015 | with 6th planet
first 8-planet star | tau Ceti | 2017 |
first 9-plaet star | tau Ceti | 2019 |
brightest star | alp Cen | 2012 | magn -0.1, both A & B
dimmest star | alp Cen C | 2016 | magn +11.1
farthest star |8 UMi | 2015 | 159 parsec
nearest star | alp Cen C | 2016 | 1.2 parsec
most northern star | gam Cep | 2007 | decl +77d 38m
most southern star | pi Men | 2001 | decl -80d 28m
------------------------------------------------------
Planets
-------
item | planet | year | value
-----------------
----+---------------+------+------
total planets | 196 planets | 2026 | at 129..tars
multipicity | 1.5199 | 2026 | (planets)/(stars)
first imaged planet | alp PsA b | 2008 | optical
" "" "" | HD218693 Peg | 2008 | b-c-d, near IR
most massive planet | 15 Sge b | 2002 | 61.5 Jupiter
least massive planet | alp2 Cen b | 2012 | 1.14 Earth
farthest from star | b Cen b | 2021 | 556 AU
closest to star | 55 Cnc d | 2004 | 0.01 AU
longest orbit period | b Cen b | 2021 | 1,800,000 day
shortest period | 55 Cnc d | 2004 | 2.8 days
---------------------------------------------------------
CONCLUSION
--------
As a celestial target planetary stars outnumber Messier targwts. All are
visble by eye, with the dimmer ones helped by binoculars. They reach into all
corners of the neavens.
Astouishly, a full generation after the first bare-eye panetary star was
found, 51 Pegasiin 1955, these stars are still severely neglected in home
astronomy litterature. Even seasoned authors commonly limit their attention to
only a couple ratly-discovered stars.
These stars, directly tying the hevens to human, shold be a built-in part
of starviewing actvity and resource, not treated as a cute historical note.
= = = = =