Temperature
3500 K
3375 to 3660.3
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Stellar HostProfile
GJ 581
M3.0 V • 6.30 pc
Records
12
literature rows
Planets
3
system count
References
13
distinct source labels
TIC: TIC 36853511HIP: HIP 74995
Approximate color
from effective temperature
Canonical Summary
Adopted host values from one source row
Values come from the row with the most populated summary measurements. Missing values stay missing. Ranges and counts describe all source rows.
Stellar source: von Stauffenberg et al. 2024 • System source: TICv8
Mass
0.29 Msun
0.29 to 0.33
Radius
0.30 Rsun
0.29 to 0.34
Luminosity
-1.91 log(Lsun)
-2 to -1.89
Distance
6.30 pc
single adopted value
Spectral Type
M3.0 V
Multiple classifications reported
Planets
3
Stable across source rows
Scale Comparison
Radius against the Sun
Current adopted radius: 0.30 R☉ (circles scaled linearly by radius)
Sun
1.0 R☉ baseline
GJ 581
0.30 R☉
System Layout
Known planets
3 planets linked to this host
GJ 581: A Nearby Red Dwarf and Its Three Known Worlds
GJ 581 is an M3.0 V star, a small, cool red dwarf, located 20.5 light-years from Earth. Its spectral type places it in the coolest and reddest temperature class. The star has a reported mass of 0.295 solar masses and a reported radius of 0.302 solar radii. Both estimates are reported as smaller than the Sun's corresponding values, and its temperature of 3500 K is reported as cooler than the Sun's. Three planets orbit this star.
All three planets were found using the radial velocity method, which measures the wobble a planet's gravity induces in its star's motion; repeated wobbles reveal the planet and its orbital period. GJ 581 e was discovered first among the group, in 2009, and has a minimum mass of 2.48 Earth masses and an orbital period of 3.15 days. GJ 581 b was discovered in 2005, with a mass of 20.5 Earth masses and an orbital period of 5.37 days. GJ 581 c, discovered in 2007, has a mass of 6.81 Earth masses and an orbital period of 12.9 days. The reported mass estimates for all three are larger than Earth's.
Among the listed planets, GJ 581 e has the shortest year by reported estimates, while GJ 581 c has the longest. GJ 581 b has the second-shortest year. In terms of mass, GJ 581 e has the smallest reported mass among the listed planets, GJ 581 c has the second-smallest, and GJ 581 b has the largest reported mass.
Provenance
Underlying measurements and references
Evidence Summary
Rows
12
Stellar refs
12
System refs
1
Distancestable
Parallaxstable
Temperaturedisputed
Massdisputed
Radiusdisputed
Agedisputed
Luminositydisputed
Surface Gravitydisputed
Metallicitydisputed
Spectral Typedisputed
| ST TEFF | ST MASS | ST RAD | ST AGE | ST LUM | ST SPECTYPE | SY DIST | Stellar Ref | System Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 0.31 | 0.29 | 4.30 | -1.89 | M3 V | 6.30 | Vogt et al. 2010 | TICv8 |
| 3375 | 0.33 | 0.34 | — | -2 | M3.0V | 6.30 | Turnbull 2015 | TICv8 |
| 3396 | 0.31 | 0.33 | — | -1.89 | — | 6.30 | TICv8 | TICv8 |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 6.30 | Mayor et al. 2009 | TICv8 |
| — | 0.31 | 0.29 | 2 | -1.89 | M3 V | 6.30 | Bonfils et al. 2005 | TICv8 |
| — | — | — | — | — | M3 | 6.30 | Hawley et al. 1996 | TICv8 |
| 3490.4 | 0.32 | 0.32 | — | — | — | 6.30 | Rosenthal et al. 2021 | TICv8 |
| — | — | — | — | — | M2.5 V | 6.30 | Henry et al. 1994 | TICv8 |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 6.30 | Wright et al. 2004 | TICv8 |
| 3660.3 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.30 | Gaia DR2 | TICv8 |
| 3500 | 0.29 | 0.30 | — | -1.91 | M3.0 V | 6.30 | von Stauffenberg et al. 2024 | TICv8 |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 6.30 | Nidever et al. 2002 | TICv8 |