Astronomers set new mark for smallest directly-imaged exoplanet
Posted: Sun, Aug 11, 2013, 10:07 AM ET (1407 GMT)
Astronomers announced this week the discovery of the smallest extrasolar planet to date directly observed by astronomers, a world four times the mass of Jupiter. Researchers detected the planet, GJ 504b, in near-infrared observations by the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii. The planet is thought to be relatively young, as its star is only about 160 million years old; the planet, astronomers said, would likely appear to be dull magenta in color as it glows from the heat of its formation. The planet orbits at a projected distance of 43.5 AU from its star. That distance raises questions about planet formation processes, which do not predict that planets that large would form so far from their parent star.
Astronomers announced this week the discovery of the smallest extrasolar planet to date directly observed by astronomers, a world four times the mass of Jupiter. Researchers detected the planet, GJ 504b, in near-infrared observations by the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii. The planet is thought to be relatively young, as its star is only about 160 million years old; the planet, astronomers said, would likely appear to be dull magenta in color as it glows from the heat of its formation. The planet orbits at a projected distance of 43.5 AU from its star. That distance raises questions about planet formation processes, which do not predict that planets that large would form so far from their parent star.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, June 3
Vast Signs Two-Mission Agreement With France, Plans Paris HQ
Aviation Week — 5:53 am ET (0953 GMT) Starlink may secure the transport, but who secures LEO data?
Space and Defense — 5:53 am ET (0953 GMT) MDA Space Selected By BAE Systems For U.S. Space Systems Command MEO Epoch 2 Constellation
PR Newswire — 5:51 am ET (0951 GMT) Tampa space company to build floating launchpads for Firefly, Vaya rockets
Florida Today — 5:51 am ET (0951 GMT) Space Force announces national security mission for Blue Origin after rocket explosion
Huntsville Times — 5:49 am ET (0949 GMT) |
