LONDON, discovery of planets with one or two stars are common. This time, astronomers found the planet that would make anyone say "wow". Finding new planets illuminated by four stars.
Planet discovered orbiting a pair of double stars, two stars orbiting each other. Meanwhile, far away in the orbit of the planet, there is another pair of double stars that also exist.
Initially, the sign of the planet's existence was realized by volunteers planethunters.org website. Then, the findings followed by observations by astronomers at the Keck Observatory. Publication of the discovery has been entered into the server arXiv.
The new planet is located at a distance of 5000 light years from Earth, named PH1, according Planet Hunter program. PH1 identified as a type of gas giant planets with 6 times the size of Earth.
Dr Chris Lintott of the University of Oxford in the UK, said, "The fourth star planet make a complex environment. However, stable planetary orbits. This is confusing, and that also makes it fun discovery. Surely, this was unexpected."
Double star system, consisting of stars that orbit each other, is actually common. However, only a few planets orbiting a binary star system with a stable. Planet with four new Star reported this time.
Lintott, as quoted by the BBC, Monday (15/10/2012), said, "There are six planets orbiting the binary system is stable and they are located quite close to their parent stars."
According to Lintott, this finding suggests that planets could form inside the protoplanetary disk. Protoplanetary disk is a high-density gas surrounding a newly formed star.
"Planets are formed very close and could have a stable orbit. This may affect (can be found) on the formation of planets in other places," said Lintott who was also involved observation.
Volunteer Planet Hunter played a role in the discovery of the planet is Jek Kian from San Francisco and Robert Gagliano from Cottonwood, Arizona. They saw flicker of starlight due to a planet transiting in front of it.
Planet Hunter is initiation, which began in 2010. The mission was to invite the public discover new planets. In essence, the mission to invite the public to analyze data discovered planet so overcome weaknesses in the use of computer systems.
Planet Hunter supports the Kepler mission, launched in 2009. By going to the website Planet Hunter, the public can access data that has been generated by the Kepler mission. Now, Planet Hunter has consisted of 170,000 people.
Sources: BBC
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar