Tau Ceti e

Artistic depiction of a terrestrial exoplanet

Discovery
Discovery date| December 19, 2012

Detection method

| Radial velocity
Designations

Alternative names

| 52 Ceti e, Tau Ceti e
Orbital characteristics

Semi-major axis

| 0.552 AU
Orbital period| 168 d
Physical characteristics
Mass| ≥3.93 M🜨

Short description: Dubious exoplanet orbiting Tau Ceti

Tau Ceti e, also called 52 Ceti e, is a doubtful[1]exoplanet candidate proposed to be orbiting Tau Ceti, first detected in 2012 by statistical analyses of the star's variations in radial velocity obtained using HIRES, AAPS and HARPS.[2][3] Its possible properties were refined in 2017, where it was one of two planets recovered from new data, the other being Tau Ceti f. Studies published in 2021 and 2025 have been unable to confirm this planet.[1][4]

## Properties

It would orbit at a distance of 0.552 astronomical unit|AU (between the orbits of Venus and Mercury in the Solar System) with an orbital period of 168 days and has a minimum mass of 3.93 Earth masses.[5] If Tau Ceti e possesses an Earth-like atmosphere, the surface temperature would be around 68 °C (341 K; 154 °F).[6] Based upon the incident flux upon the planet, a study of planetary habitability by Güdel et al. (2014) suggested that the planet lies outside of the conservative habitable zone defined by the runaway greenhouse limit, but within the optimistic habitable zone defined by the "recent Venus" limit.[7]

## In fiction

In Andy Weir's 2021 science fiction novel, Project Hail Mary, along with the 2026 film, Tau Ceti serves as the primary present-day setting of the novel and Tau Ceti e is given the name "Adrian" (after the character from the Rocky franchise) and serves as the setting for the climax of the story.[8]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Figueira, P.; Faria, J. P.; Silva, A. M.; Castro-González, A.; Gomes da Silva, J.; Sousa, S. G.; Bossini, D.; Zapatero-Osorio, M. R. et al. (August 2025). "A comprehensive study on radial velocity signals using ESPRESSO: Pushing precision to the 10 cm/s level". Astronomy & Astrophysics 700: A174. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202553869. ISSN 0004-6361. https://www.aanda.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202553869.
2. ↑ Tuomi, Mikko; Jones, Hugh R. A.; Jenkins, James S.; Tinney, Chris G.; Butler, R. Paul; Vogt, Steve S.; Barnes, John R.; Wittenmyer, Robert A. et al. (2013). "Signals embedded in the radial velocity noise. Periodic variations in the tau Ceti velocities". Astronomy & Astrophysics 551: A79. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201220509. ISSN 0004-6361. Bibcode: 2013A&A...551A..79T.
3. ↑ "Four Exoplanets Detected around Nearby Star Tau Ceti" (in en-US). 2017-08-10. https://www.sci.news/astronomy/tau-ceti-exoplanets-05117.html.
4. ↑ Cretignier, Michael et al. (September 2021). "YARARA: Significant improvement in RV precision through post-processing of spectral time series". Astronomy & Astrophysics 653: A43. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202140986. Bibcode: 2021A&A...653A..43C.
5. ↑ Feng, Fabo; Tuomi, Mikko; Jones, Hugh R. A.; Barnes, John; Anglada-Escude, Guillem; Vogt, Steven S.; Butler, R. Paul (2017-09-05). "Color difference makes a difference: four planet candidates around tau Ceti". The Astronomical Journal 154 (4): 135. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/aa83b4. ISSN 1538-3881. Bibcode: 2017AJ....154..135F.
6. ↑ Bignami, Giovanni F. (2015-06-13) (in en). The Mystery of the Seven Spheres: How Homo sapiens will Conquer Space. Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-17004-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=crvpCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA110.
7. ↑ Guedel, M.; Dvorak, R.; Erkaev, N.; Kasting, J.; Khodachenko, M.; Lammer, H.; Pilat-Lohinger, E.; Rauer, H. et al. (2014). "Astrophysical Conditions for Planetary Habitability". Protostars and Planets VI. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816531240-ch038. ISBN 9780816531240.
8. ↑ Thompson, Joanna (2026-03-19). "I talked to Andy Weir about the astrobiology behind 'Project Hail Mary'". https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/i-talked-to-andy-weir-about-the-astrobiology-behind-project-hail-mary.

Template:Tau Ceti

* v
* t
* e

Cetus constellation

Stars
(list)|

| Bayer|

* α (Menkar)
* β (Diphda)
* γ (Kaffaljidhma)
* δ
* ε
* ζ (Baten Kaitos)
* η
* θ
* ι
* κ1
* κ2
* λ
* μ
* ν
* ξ1
* ξ2
* ο (Mira)
* π
* ρ
* σ
* τ
* υ
* φ1
* φ2
* φ3
* φ4
* χ

|

Flamsteed|

* 1
* 2
* 3
* 6
* 7
* 9
* 10
* 11
* 12
* 13
* 14
* 15
* 18
* 20
* 21
* 25
* 26
* 27
* 28
* 29
* 30
* 32
* 33
* 34
* 35
* 36
* 37
* 38
* 39
* 40
* 41
* 42
* 43
* 44
* 46
* 47
* 48
* 49
* 50
* 56
* 57
* 58
* 60
* 61
* 62
* 63
* 64
* 66
* 67
* 69
* 70
* 71
* 75
* 77
* 79
* 80
* 81
* 84
* 93
* 94
* 95
* 25 Ari

Variable|

* T
* RR
* TV
* TW
* UU
* VZ (Mira B)
* WW
* WX
* XY
* XZ
* YZ
* ZZ
* AA
* AB
* AD
* AR
* BG
* BK
* CF
* DK
* EH
* EL
* EO
* ES

HR|

* 9
* 10
* 12
* 16
* 31
* 37
* 51
* 61
* 66
* 72
* 108
* 115
* 118
* 150
* 159
* 172
* 173
* 174
* 190
* 197
* 201
* 206
* 210
* 218
* 220
* 227
* 228
* 232
* 247
* 251
* 263
* 320
* 325
* 387
* 388
* 392
* 394
* 404
* 405
* 406
* 416
* 425
* 448
* 466
* 473
* 492
* 500
* 507
* 513
* 560
* 608
* 611
* 616
* 625
* 638
* 651
* 672
* 684
* 692
* 693
* 697
* 713
* 719
* 725
* 732
* 735
* 737
* 745
* 751
* 766
* 770
* 775
* 783
* 784
* 795
* 796
* 816
* 870
* 908
* 926
* 942
* 9054
* 9095
* 9096
* 9101

HD|

* 1690
* 1879
* 2268
* 2638
* 4747
* 5319
* 6037
* 6718
* 7449
* 8713
* 8896
* 9690
* 9731
* 10024
* 10725
* 11365
* 11396
* 11506
* 11964
* 12116
* 12702
* 13004
* 13546
* 13763
* 15115
* 16008
* 16031
* 17001
* 224349
* 224693 (Axólotl)

Gliese|

* Gliese 40
* Gliese 105
* GJ 1002
* GJ 1005
* GJ 1057
* GJ 2012

Other|

* BD−17 63
* Cayrel's Star
* CFBDS J005910.90–011401.3
* CS 31082-001
* DENIS-P J020529.0−115925
* GD 40
* HIP 5158
* HIP 11952
* L 870-2
* LHS 1140
* Luyten 726-8 (UV/BL)
* NGC 156
* NGC 302
* NGC 308
* NGC 310
* PSR B0031−07
* PSR J0034−0534
* PSR J0108−1431
* SDSS J001820.5−093939.2
* SDSS J0106−1000
* ULAS J003402.77−005206.7
* WD J2356-209
* WASP-26
* WASP-44
* WASP-71
* WISE J0254+0223

Nebulae|

| Planetary|

* BoBn 1
* NGC 246

|

Galaxies|

| Messier|

* 77

|

NGC|

* 17
* 35
* 45
* 47
* 50
* 54
* 59
* 61
* 62
* 64
* 65
* 66
* 73
* 77
* 102
* 107
* 113
* 114
* 117
* 118
* 120
* 124
* 132
* 135
* 142
* 143
* 144
* 145
* 151
* 154
* 155
* 157
* 161
* 163
* 165
* 166
* 167
* 168
* 170
* 171
* 172
* 173
* 177
* 178
* 179
* 187
* 191
* 192
* 195
* 196
* 197
* 201
* 207
* 209
* 210
* 216
* 217
* 219
* 223
* 227
* 230
* 232
* 235A
* 235B
* 237
* 239
* 244
* 245
* 247
* 255
* 259
* 263
* 268
* 270
* 271
* 273
* 274
* 275
* 276
* 277
* 279
* 283
* 284
* 285
* 286
* 291
* 293
* 297
* 298
* 301
* 303
* 307
* 309
* 320
* 321
* 325
* 327
* 329
* 331
* 333
* 333B
* 335
* 336
* 337
* 337A
* 340
* 341
* 341B
* 342
* 343
* 344
* 345
* 347
* 349
* 350
* 351
* 352
* 353
* 355
* 356
* 357
* 359
* 363
* 364
* 367
* 369
* 377
* 391
* 413
* 417
* 426
* 428
* 429
* 430
* 435
* 442
* 445
* 448
* 450
* 478
* 480
* 481
* 487
* 493
* 497
* 519
* 521
* 530
* 533
* 535
* 538
* 539
* 540
* 541
* 543
* 545
* 547
* 548
* 550
* 554A
* 554B
* 555
* 556
* 557
* 558
* 560
* 564
* 565
* 567
* 570
* 577
* 578
* 583
* 584
* 585
* 586
* 589
* 593
* 594
* 596
* 599
* 600
* 601
* 615
* 617
* 622
* 624
* 635
* 636
* 640
* 647
* 648
* 649
* 655
* 667
* 681
* 682
* 690
* 699
* 701
* 702
* 707
* 713
* 715
* 720
* 725
* 726
* 731
* 734
* 747
* 748
* 755
* 756
* 758
* 762
* 767
* 768
* 773
* 779
* 787
* 788
* 790
* 799
* 800
* 806
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* 825
* 827
* 829
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* 835
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* 842
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* 848
* 849
* 850
* 851
* 853
* 858
* 859
* 863
* 864
* 867
* 868
* 872
* 873
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* 878
* 879
* 880
* 881
* 883
* 887
* 892
* 894
* 895
* 899
* 902
* 905
* 907
* 908
* 921
* 926
* 929
* 934
* 936
* 941
* 942
* 943
* 944
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* 947
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* 950
* 951
* 955
* 958
* 960
* 963
* 965
* 966
* 967
* 975
* 977
* 981
* 985
* 988
* 989
* 991
* 993
* 997
* 998
* 1004
* 1007
* 1008
* 1009
* 1010
* 1011
* 1013
* 1015
* 1016
* 1017
* 1018
* 1019
* 1020
* 1021
* 1022
* 1026
* 1032
* 1033
* 1034
* 1035
* 1038
* 1041
* 1042
* 1043
* 1044
* 1045
* 1046
* 1047
* 1048
* 1048A
* 1051
* 1052
* 1055
* 1063
* 1064
* 1065
* 1069
* 1070
* 1071
* 1072
* 1073
* 1074
* 1075
* 1076
* 1078
* 1080
* 1085
* 1087
* 1090
* 1094
* 1095
* 1101
* 1104
* 1105
* 1107
* 1128
* 1137
* 1141
* 1142
* 1149
* 1153
* 1194
* 1211
* 1218
* 1219
* 1254
* 1280
* 7807
* 7808
* 7813
* 7821
* 7828
* 7829

Other|

* Arp 147
* Arp 256
* 3C 15
* 3C 17
* 3C 75
* Cetus Dwarf Spheroidal galaxy
* HCM-6A
* Holmberg 15A
* IC 1613
* IRAS F01475-0740
* Markarian 573
* Markarian 1014
* Markarian 1018
* Markarian 1044
* NAB 0205+024
* PHL 938
* PKS 0048-097
* PKS 0106+013
* PKS 0119-046
* PKS 0139-097
* PKS 0215+015
* PKS 0237-233
* PKS 0306+102
* QSO B0137+012
* QSO B0302-003
* SDSS J0303-0019
* SMM J02399-0136
* SXDF-NB1006-2
* 9Spitch
* Ton S180
* UM 673
* VV 114
* Wolf–Lundmark–Melotte

Galaxy
clusters|

* Abell 85
* Abell 119
* Abell 133
* Abell 151
* Abell 168
* Abell 194
* Abell 209
* Abell 222
* Abell 223
* Abell 267
* Abell 370
* Abell 400
* HCG 16
* IRC 0218
* JKCS 041
* RX J0152.7-1357

Other|

* GRB 000911
* GRB 041006
* GRB 050908
* GRB 060908
* GRB 091127
* SN 1984L
* SN 2005gj
* SN 2005hk

* v
* t
* e

2012 in space

* « 2011

2013 »

Space probe
launches|

* Van Allen Probes

Comets|

* C/2011 Q2 (McNaught)
* C/2012 C2 (Bruenjes)
* C/2006 S3 (LONEOS)
* C/2013 L2 (Catalina)
* C/2010 R1 (LINEAR)
* C/2011 U3 (PANSTARRS)
* C/2011 UF305 (LINEAR)
* C/2011 R1 (McNaught)
* C/2013 F1 (Boattini)
* C/2013 G2 (McNaught)
* C/2012 J1 (Catalina)

NEOs|

* Asteroid close approaches
* 2012 EG5
* 2012 TV
* 2012 TC4
* 2012 KP24
* 2012 BX34
* 2012 FP35
* 2012 KT42

Exoplanets|

* Gliese 667 Cc
* Alpha Centauri Bb
* Gliese 163 c
* HD 40307 e
* HD 40307 f
* HD 40307 g
* Kappa Andromedae b
* KELT-2Ab
* Kepler-23b
* Kepler-32b
* Kepler-32c
* Kepler-34b
* Kepler-36b
* Kepler-42c
* Kepler-47b
* Kepler-47c
* Kepler-56
* Kepler-80
* Kepler-88
* Kepler-89
* PH1b
* Tau Ceti e
* Tau Ceti f

Space
exploration|

* ANUSAT
* Curiosity
* Dragon C2+
* Edoardo Amaldi ATV
* Ekspress AM4
* Explorer 8
* Fobos-Grunt
* Kedr
* Kosmos 2176
* Kosmos 2261
* Kounotori 3
* Navid
* PharmaSat
* Progress M-13M
* Progress M-14M
* Progress M-15M
* Sfera
* Shenzhou 9
* Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer
* Soyuz TMA-03M
* Soyuz TMA-04M
* Soyuz TMA-05M
* Soyuz TMA-22
* SpaceX CRS-1
* TacSat-3
* USA-226
* Yinghuo-1

* Category:2011 in space — Category:2012 in space — Category:2013 in space

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