Astronomers detect exoplanet in x-rays
Posted: Wed, Jul 31, 2013, 8:12 AM ET (1212 GMT)
Astronomers have detected an extrasolar planet for the first time using x-ray observations. Researchers used observations by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA's XMM-Newton spacecraft to attempt to detect an exoplanet already known to orbit the star HD 189733, 63 light-years from the Earth, as the planet transited the star's disk. Astronomers not only confirmed the planet's presence in those x-ray observations, they say three times the dimming of the star in x-rays as in visible light, suggesting that the exoplanet's atmosphere may contain extended layers that are transparent to visible light but opaque to x-rays.
Astronomers have detected an extrasolar planet for the first time using x-ray observations. Researchers used observations by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA's XMM-Newton spacecraft to attempt to detect an exoplanet already known to orbit the star HD 189733, 63 light-years from the Earth, as the planet transited the star's disk. Astronomers not only confirmed the planet's presence in those x-ray observations, they say three times the dimming of the star in x-rays as in visible light, suggesting that the exoplanet's atmosphere may contain extended layers that are transparent to visible light but opaque to x-rays.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, February 15
constellr snaps up €37M to expand its thermal satellite imaging
Constellr — 12:45 pm ET (1745 GMT) Pale Blue Commences Operations at “Tsukuba Production Engineering Base” for Mass Production of Propulsion Systems
Pale Blue — 12:44 pm ET (1744 GMT) AAC Clyde Space expands maritime data capacity with additional Sedna satellites
AAC Clyde Space — 12:44 pm ET (1744 GMT) Hypersonica successfully tests Europe’s sovereign hypersonic missile prototype
Hypersonica — 12:42 pm ET (1742 GMT) Airbus complements its radar space-based portfolio with the Synspective SAR constellation
Airbus Group — 12:42 pm ET (1742 GMT) |
