Astronomers determine rotation rate of exoplanet for first time
Posted: Sat, May 3, 2014, 10:19 AM ET (1419 GMT)
Astronomers announced this week that they have measured for the fist time how fast an extrasolar planet is spinning. European astronomers measured the Doppler effect of light from the planet Beta Pictoris b, one of the first exoplanets to be directly imaged, to determine its rotational rate. They calculated that the planet, about 4 to 11 times as massive as Jupiter, completes one day in just eight hours. Astronomers note that the planet is still very young, with an age of just 20 million years, and its rotation rate may increase as it cools and shrinks.
Astronomers announced this week that they have measured for the fist time how fast an extrasolar planet is spinning. European astronomers measured the Doppler effect of light from the planet Beta Pictoris b, one of the first exoplanets to be directly imaged, to determine its rotational rate. They calculated that the planet, about 4 to 11 times as massive as Jupiter, completes one day in just eight hours. Astronomers note that the planet is still very young, with an age of just 20 million years, and its rotation rate may increase as it cools and shrinks.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, January 8
Four Vendors Are Set To Build New LEO Missile-Tracking Constellation
Aviation Week — 6:36 am ET (1136 GMT) Global Orbital Launch Rate Jumped 25% In 2025
Aviation Week — 6:36 am ET (1136 GMT) First Vulcan Launch Announced In New Era For ULA
Aviation Week — 6:36 am ET (1136 GMT) TPS evaluations taking place at Starbase on next two Ships to fly
NasaSpaceFlight.com — 6:34 am ET (1134 GMT) Vandenberg Announces Plan for New ‘Super-Heavy’ Launch Site
Santa Barbara (CA) Independent — 6:34 am ET (1134 GMT) |
