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
|
|
Sunday, January 18
U.S. Support for Jennifer Warren for ITU Radio Regulation Board
US State Department — 7:13 pm ET (0013 GMT) Liechtenstein’s spectrum award to Open Cosmos propels Europe in the space telecommunications infrastructure race
Open Cosmos — 7:11 pm ET (0011 GMT) Expanding 5G connectivity with the Airbus UpNext SpaceRAN demonstrator
Airbus Group — 7:09 pm ET (0009 GMT) AccelerComm participates in Airbus UpNext SpaceRAN Demonstrator, Advancing Global 5G Connectivity in Space
AccelerComm — 7:07 pm ET (0007 GMT) Spacecoin Signs Strategic Agreements with Governments, Telcos, and Industry Partners to Advance Permissionless Connectivity
Medium — 7:05 pm ET (0005 GMT) |
