Multi-planet solar system discovered
Posted: Thu, May 18, 2006, 8:04 AM ET (1204 GMT)
European astronomers have discovered three Neptune-sized exoplanets and a probable asteroid belt orbiting a Sunlike star. In a paper in the Thursday issue of the journal Nature, astronomers reported the discovery of the three exoplanets orbiting the star HD 69830, 41 light-years from Earth. All three have minimum masses of between 10 and 18 Earth masses, making them similar in size to Neptune. The innermost planet is thought to be a rocky world, while the outer two are gas giants; the outermost is at the inner edge of the star's habitability zone, where liquid water could exist. Astronomers also reported evidence of an asteroid belt encircling the star. The discovery was made using a high-resolution spectrograph at the European Southern Observatory, which was able to detect the minute Doppler shifts in the star's spectral lines caused by the planet's gravitational tugs.
European astronomers have discovered three Neptune-sized exoplanets and a probable asteroid belt orbiting a Sunlike star. In a paper in the Thursday issue of the journal Nature, astronomers reported the discovery of the three exoplanets orbiting the star HD 69830, 41 light-years from Earth. All three have minimum masses of between 10 and 18 Earth masses, making them similar in size to Neptune. The innermost planet is thought to be a rocky world, while the outer two are gas giants; the outermost is at the inner edge of the star's habitability zone, where liquid water could exist. Astronomers also reported evidence of an asteroid belt encircling the star. The discovery was made using a high-resolution spectrograph at the European Southern Observatory, which was able to detect the minute Doppler shifts in the star's spectral lines caused by the planet's gravitational tugs.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Apex becomes billion-dollar company with $200 million Series D round
Posted: Sun, Sep 14 4:09 AM ET (0809 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, September 17
Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites scheduled for Wednesday morning
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) Colorado Springs springs into action amid loss of Space Command
Washington Times — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) SpaceX rocket-launching license survives NEPA challenge
POLITICO — 1:30 am ET (0530 GMT) SpaceX Eyes First Starship Version 3 Launch In ’25 Or ’26
Aviation Week — 1:29 am ET (0529 GMT) Judge dismisses suit challenging SpaceX's Starship approval
Houston Chronicle — 1:28 am ET (0528 GMT) |
