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
|
|
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
|
|
Saturday, June 27
Cosmic Storms Shaped the First Stars in the Universe
Academia Sinica — 8:32 pm ET (0032 GMT) PLD Space strengthens its Board of Directors with the appointment of Hilario Albarracín
PLD Space — 8:31 pm ET (0031 GMT) Neo Space Group Announces Dr. Abdullah Aljohani as Chief Technology and Operations Officer
Neo Space Group — 8:31 pm ET (0031 GMT) RAS Fellow awarded 2026 Carl Sagan Medal
Royal Astronomical Society — 8:29 pm ET (0029 GMT) Bow-and-arrow-shaped radio galaxy discovered by citizen scientist
Royal Astronomical Society — 8:29 pm ET (0029 GMT) |
