Dozens of new exoplanets discovered
Posted: Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 6:58 AM ET (1058 GMT)
Astronomers announced Monday the discovery of over 30 new extrasolar planets, bringing the total number of such worlds found to date to 400. The discoveries, 32 in total, were made by a state-of-the-art instrument at the European Southern Observatory in Chile, which found the exoplanets by detecting minute, periodic shifts in stellar spectral lines caused by orbiting planets. A number of the discoveries are around stars that are "metal-deficient", setting constraints on the amount of heavy elements needed for planet formation. Astronomers now estimate that at least 40 percent of solar-type stars have low-mass planets.
Astronomers announced Monday the discovery of over 30 new extrasolar planets, bringing the total number of such worlds found to date to 400. The discoveries, 32 in total, were made by a state-of-the-art instrument at the European Southern Observatory in Chile, which found the exoplanets by detecting minute, periodic shifts in stellar spectral lines caused by orbiting planets. A number of the discoveries are around stars that are "metal-deficient", setting constraints on the amount of heavy elements needed for planet formation. Astronomers now estimate that at least 40 percent of solar-type stars have low-mass planets.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, January 22
Colorado Springs leaders done fighting over Space Command
Colorado Springs Gazette — 5:00 am ET (1000 GMT) Space Force Southern HQ opens at Davis-Monthan
KVOA-TV Tucson — 4:58 am ET (0958 GMT) Space Forces Southern officially activated and will ‘be a force of good in the region’
Washington Examiner — 4:57 am ET (0957 GMT) Rocket Lab Neutron Test Update
Rocket Lab — 4:57 am ET (0957 GMT) Rocket Lab Suffers Neutron Setback
Aviation Week — 4:56 am ET (0956 GMT) |
