Fifth extrasolar planet found around star
Posted: Wed, Nov 7, 2007, 7:33 AM ET (1233 GMT)
Astronomers announced Tuesday the discovery of a fifth planet orbiting a nearby Sun-like star, creating a solar system near as complex as our own. The new planet is 45 times the mass of the Earth and orbits in the star's "habitable zone", completing one orbit in 260 days. The planet is the fifth discovered orbiting the star 51 Cancri, 41 light-years from Earth. Unlike the other four, believed to be gas giants ranging in size from Neptune to four times that of Jupiter, this planet is likely a large rocky planet. Astronomers suggested that any sizable moons orbiting the new planet could be able to support the presence of liquid water on its surface and thus life. The overall planetary system demonstrates to astronomers that complex planetary systems like our own are not necessarily unusual in the universe.
Astronomers announced Tuesday the discovery of a fifth planet orbiting a nearby Sun-like star, creating a solar system near as complex as our own. The new planet is 45 times the mass of the Earth and orbits in the star's "habitable zone", completing one orbit in 260 days. The planet is the fifth discovered orbiting the star 51 Cancri, 41 light-years from Earth. Unlike the other four, believed to be gas giants ranging in size from Neptune to four times that of Jupiter, this planet is likely a large rocky planet. Astronomers suggested that any sizable moons orbiting the new planet could be able to support the presence of liquid water on its surface and thus life. The overall planetary system demonstrates to astronomers that complex planetary systems like our own are not necessarily unusual in the universe.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
US and UK militaries conduct coordinated satellite maneuvers
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:30 AM ET (1230 GMT) Blue Origin retires a New Shepard capsule after payload flight
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:25 AM ET (1225 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, October 15
United Schedules First Starlink-Equipped Mainline Flight for Take Off
PR Newswire — 7:52 am ET (1152 GMT) Eutelsat Network Solutions Unveils New Brand Identity for EACOWT
PR Newswire — 7:52 am ET (1152 GMT) Final Environmental Impact Statement Issued for Planned Increase of Vandenberg Rocket Launches
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 7:51 am ET (1151 GMT) SpaceX’s megarocket finds redemption after explosive failures. But time may be running out
CNN — 7:46 am ET (1146 GMT) K2 Space Corp, SpaceX ink Falcon 9 rocket deal for 2027 mission
UPI — 7:45 am ET (1145 GMT) |
