PSR B1620-26 b is an extrasolar planet located approximately 12,400 light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Scorpius (the Scorpion). It bears the unofficial nickname "Methuselah" and a few popular sources refer to this object as "PSR B1620-26 c" (see below for discussion). The planet is in a circumbinary orbit around the two stars of PSR B1620-26 (which comprises a pulsar (PSR B1620-26 A) and a white dwarf (WD B1620-26)). The planet i...
more
PSR B1620-26 b is an extrasolar planet located approximately 12,400 light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Scorpius (the Scorpion). It bears the unofficial nickname "Methuselah" and a few popular sources refer to this object as "PSR B1620-26 c" (see below for discussion). The planet is in a circumbinary orbit around the two stars of PSR B1620-26 (which comprises a pulsar (PSR B1620-26 A) and a white dwarf (WD B1620-26)). The planet is the oldest known extrasolar planet, believed to be about 12.7 billion years old.
While the designation PSR B1620-26 b is not used in any scientific papers, the planet is listed in the SIMBAD database as PSR B1620-26 b. Some popular sources use the designation PSR B1620-26 c to refer to the planet, presumably under the logic that since the A and B designations are used for the two stars it orbits, the planetary designations should start at "c". This usage is not supported in the scientific literature, nor does this designation appear in the...
less
