Astronomers discover distant exoplanet
Posted: Sat, Apr 17, 2004, 12:54 AM ET (0454 GMT)
Astronomers announced this week that they have used a new technique to discover an extrasolar planet much farther from Earth than any other known exoplanet. Astronomers said Thursday that they have discovered a planet about 1.5 times the mass of Jupiter orbiting 3 AUs from a red dwarf star 17,000 light-years from the Earth. The discovery was made possible through a technique called gravitational microlensing, where the gravity of an intervening object acts as a magnifying lens, making more distant background stars appear brighter. In this case the exoplanet was directly in the line-of-sight between the Earth and a star 24,000 light-years away, brightening that star momentarily as it passed in front of it. Astronomers hope to use this technique to find many more exoplanets, including worlds as small as the Earth.
Astronomers announced this week that they have used a new technique to discover an extrasolar planet much farther from Earth than any other known exoplanet. Astronomers said Thursday that they have discovered a planet about 1.5 times the mass of Jupiter orbiting 3 AUs from a red dwarf star 17,000 light-years from the Earth. The discovery was made possible through a technique called gravitational microlensing, where the gravity of an intervening object acts as a magnifying lens, making more distant background stars appear brighter. In this case the exoplanet was directly in the line-of-sight between the Earth and a star 24,000 light-years away, brightening that star momentarily as it passed in front of it. Astronomers hope to use this technique to find many more exoplanets, including worlds as small as the Earth.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Report outlines cost growth in canceled NASA exploration programs
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:14 AM ET (1514 GMT) Perseverance Mars rover finds more potential biosignatures
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:12 AM ET (1512 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, June 30
Starlink’s Architects Launch Eclipse to Open the Megaconstellation Era to New Players
Business Wire — 6:31 am ET (1031 GMT) Rocket Lab buys Iridium in $8 billion deal to take on SpaceX
Reuters — 6:25 am ET (1025 GMT) Rocket Lab CEO vows commitment to aero as firm buys Iridium
Runway Girl Network — 6:21 am ET (1021 GMT) Rocket Lab expands space biz with $8 billion deal
Axios — 6:21 am ET (1021 GMT) Rocket Lab to acquire satellite firm Iridium
Radio New Zealand — 6:21 am ET (1021 GMT) |
