Following its discovery the planet was designated 42 Draconis b. In July 2014 theInternational Astronomical Union launchedNameExoWorlds, a process for giving proper names to certain exoplanets and their host stars.[2] The process involved public nomination and voting for the new names.[3] In December 2015, the IAU announced the winning name was Orbitar for this planet.[4] The winning name was submitted by the Brevard Astronomical Society ofBrevard County, Florida,United States.[5] Orbitar is a contrived word paying homage to the space launch and orbital operations ofNASA.[6]
A 2021 study found that more recentradial velocity measurements of 42 Draconis were inconsistent with the proposed planetary orbit, casting serious doubt on 42 Draconis b's existence, but with a two-planet solution still being a possibility. The study suggests that the radial velocity signal is likely caused by a yet unknown stellar phenomenon, which might be common ingiant stars.[7]
