Astronomers discover youngest exoplanet
Posted: Thu, Jan 3, 2008, 7:47 AM ET (1247 GMT)
German astronomers reported this week that they have discovered the youngest extrasolar planet found to date, a world that is still embedded within the protoplanetary disk around its star. Astronomers detected the presence of the exoplanet surrounding the star TW Hydrae indirectly, using the radial velocity technique used to find most of the over 250 known exoplanets. The star itself is estimated to be only 8-10 million years old, and is still surrounded by a protoplanetary disk of dust and gas. The planet, about 10 times the mass of Jupiter, orbits in an inner gap in the disk, completing one orbit in just over 3.5 days. The discovery puts new constraints on how long it takes for planets to form around new stars.
German astronomers reported this week that they have discovered the youngest extrasolar planet found to date, a world that is still embedded within the protoplanetary disk around its star. Astronomers detected the presence of the exoplanet surrounding the star TW Hydrae indirectly, using the radial velocity technique used to find most of the over 250 known exoplanets. The star itself is estimated to be only 8-10 million years old, and is still surrounded by a protoplanetary disk of dust and gas. The planet, about 10 times the mass of Jupiter, orbits in an inner gap in the disk, completing one orbit in just over 3.5 days. The discovery puts new constraints on how long it takes for planets to form around new stars.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, February 4
Viasat Awarded Task Order For Space Force Satcom Services
Aviation Week — 7:01 am ET (1201 GMT) A Fidelity fund is now valuing its stake in SpaceX at more than $2.7 billion
Business Insider — 6:59 am ET (1159 GMT) Elon Musk’s glaring conflicts of interest deserve more attention
The Hill — 6:57 am ET (1157 GMT) Airbus Hires Goldman for European Space Tie-Up to Rival Musk
Bloomberg News — 6:55 am ET (1155 GMT) Microbes in space: how bacteria could help sustain long-distance space travel
Nature — 6:52 am ET (1152 GMT) |
