Exoplanet found orbiting binary star system
Posted: Fri, Sep 16, 2011, 8:08 AM ET (1208 GMT)
Astronomers announced Thursday the discovery a planet orbiting a pair of stars, the first such extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, detected to date. Astronomers found the planet, designated Kepler-16b, as it transited the binary stars in observations by NASA's Kepler spacecraft. The two stars, each smaller than the Sun, are 200 light-years awa; the Saturn-sized Kepler-16b orbits them in a 229-day orbit. The discovery drew comparisons to Tatooine, the planet from Star Wars that orbited two suns.
Astronomers announced Thursday the discovery a planet orbiting a pair of stars, the first such extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, detected to date. Astronomers found the planet, designated Kepler-16b, as it transited the binary stars in observations by NASA's Kepler spacecraft. The two stars, each smaller than the Sun, are 200 light-years awa; the Saturn-sized Kepler-16b orbits them in a 229-day orbit. The discovery drew comparisons to Tatooine, the planet from Star Wars that orbited two suns.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, May 13
A new ‘Boost!’ for space transportation companies
ESA — 6:12 am ET (1012 GMT) Elon Musk Is Out to Rule Space. Can Anyone Stop Him?
Wired — 6:11 am ET (1011 GMT) AST SpaceMobile ‘Optimistic’ About New Glenn Pad Return
Aviation Week — 6:08 am ET (1008 GMT) AST SpaceMobile Confirms Target for 45 BlueBirds This Year, Despite Blue Origin Launch Failure
ViaSatellite — 6:06 am ET (1006 GMT) ULA to prep future Vulcan launch for Amazon despite rocket investigation
Orlando Sentinel — 6:06 am ET (1006 GMT) |
