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
|
|
SpaceX sets Nov. 18 launch date for sixth Starship test flight
Posted: Sat, Nov 9 9:57 AM ET (1457 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, November 15
Sierra Space and DoE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory Revolutionizing Thermal Protection for a New Generation of Commercial Space Transportation Vehicles
Sierra Space — 6:20 am ET (1120 GMT) 1st Space Brigade bolsters tactical interoperability, integration with UK visit
US Army — 6:17 am ET (1117 GMT) US the greatest threat to space security and the biggest instigator of space arms race: Chinese Defense Ministry
Global Times — 6:17 am ET (1117 GMT) Rocket Lab to Launch Satellite Constellation Missions from Wallops Island
WBOC-TV Delmarva — 6:15 am ET (1115 GMT) AST SpaceMobile Announces Launch Services Agreements to Enable Continuous Space-Based Cellular Broadband Service Coverage
Business Wire — 6:14 am ET (1114 GMT) |
