Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print Astronomers discover two new planets, both among the hottest ever
Slashdot It! Slashdot Astronomers discover two new planets, both among the hottest ever
Submit to Reddit Submit Astronomers discover two new planets, both among the hottest ever to Reddit
Reading: Astronomers discover two new planets, both among the hottest everTwitter This Reading: Astronomers discover two new planets, both among the hottest everTwitter Astronomers discover two new planets, both among the hottest ever
Add to Facebook Add Astronomers discover two new planets, both among the hottest ever to Facebook

Astronomers discover two new planets, both among the hottest ever

September 27, 2006

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Astronomers have discovered two new planets outside our solar system, both extremely close to their stars and thus among the hottest ever found.

A University of Florida astronomer is among more than three dozen astronomers who found the new large planets, announced today at the Transiting Extrasolar Planets Workshop at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany.




Stephen Kane, a UF postdoctoral associate, said he and his colleagues pinpointed the planets by detecting the slight dimming of starlight that occurs when the planets pass in front of their stars. Of about 200 planets discovered so far, the new planets are only the 13th and 14th to be found using this technique, called the transit method. But that's likely to change quickly as the United Kingdom-based effort to discover planets with the transit method gathers steam, Kane said.

"We can expect these two planets to be the first in a wave of a whole lot of these new types of planets," he said.

Known as "Hot Jupiters" because of their Jupiter-like size and temperature, the new planets are so close to their stars that they complete their orbit in a mere two and two-and-one-half days, respectively. That compares to 88 days for Mercury, the planet with the fastest orbit nearest the sun in our solar system. The very close orbit also means that the new planets are hotter than Mercury, which has a surface temperature of 752 degrees Fahrenheit. The planets are estimated to have a temperature of at least 3,272 degrees.

There is also evidence that the solar radiation from the stars is so intense that it is whipping away their atmospheres. "Hot Jupiters are assumed to have a significantly reduced lifetime due to their proximity to the star," Kane said.

Most planets outside our solar system have been found using the radial velocity method, which measures the gravitational wobble in the star induced by the orbiting planet. The transit method would seem at first to be impractical because it requires a lucky break: The orbital plane of the planets under observation must be aligned toward Earth so astronomers can see the starlight dim as the planets pass.

The astronomers who discovered the two new planets dealt with this complication through, in Kane's words, "brute force." The astronomers surveyed millions of stars using twin telescopes snapping photos of the southern and northern skies from La Palma in Spain's Canary Islands and Sutherland, South Africa. Each telescope is equipped with eight wide-angle cameras, each of which has a field of view of eight degrees, which comprises a relatively large chunk of the sky. By comparison, the full moon comprises about half a degree.

The work was done through UK's leading planet detection program, a consortium of eight universities called SuperWASP, or Wide Angle Search for Planets.

Kane's role in the research was to help pick out from the vast numbers of photographed stars the most likely candidates for further investigation. The job was a difficult one because planets passing in front of stars only slightly diminish the starlight, dimming it by only about 1 percent for just a few hours. Kane also led the research on the prototype for SuperWASP, and has worked on both SuperWASP telescopes, among other efforts.

"We have computer programs which are able to search all of these light curves from the stars and see if there's something in them which looks like the star has become fainter for a short period, but it's a complicated task," Kane said.

After SuperWASP identified the tiny dips in starlight caused when the planets passed in front of their stars, a French-built instrument detected a slight wobble in each star's motion as the planets passed around them, confirming the existence of the planets.

The planets are located in the constellations Andromeda and Delphinius, respectively. The Andromeda planet is more than 1,000 light years away, while the Delphinius planet is 500 light years away.

Both of the new planets are far too hot to support life. But Kane said their discovery adds to growing knowledge about how planets form, which should help astronomers understand and zero in on Earth-like planets.

"Once we understand planet formation, we'll understand a lot more about how terrestrial planets form as well," he said.

University of Florida





Science News and Science Current Events Tag Cloud
This tag cloud is a visual representation of term frequencies of random science news topics with common terms grouped together and emphasized by their display size.
Low Birth Weight   Pancreatic Cancer   Carbon Monoxide   Earthquakes   Coronary Artery Disease   Fatty Acids   Paleontology   Vaccine   Nuclear Power   Tissue engineering   Insecticide   Malaria parasite   Coffee   Meteorites   Toxoplasmosis   Thyroid   Television   Greenhouse Gas   Logging   Protein Folding   Neutron Star   Cancer Development   Dinosaur   Archaea   Progesterone  
Related Astronomer Current Events and Astronomer News Articles Astronomer Current Events and Astronomer News RSS Astronomer Current Events and Astronomer News RSS
Largest ever survey of very distant galaxy clusters completed
An international team of researchers led by a UC Riverside astronomer has completed the largest ever survey designed to find very distant clusters of galaxies.

Caltech scientists predict greater longevity for planets with life
Roughly a billion years from now, the ever-increasing radiation from the sun will have heated Earth into inhabitability; the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that serves as food for plant life will disappear, pulled out by the weathering of rocks; the oceans will evaporate; and all living things will disappear.

New technique could find water on Earth-like planets orbiting distant suns
Since the early 1990s astronomers have discovered more than 300 planets orbiting stars other than our sun, nearly all of them gas giants like Jupiter.

Missing planets attest to destructive power of stars' tides
During the last two decades, astronomers have found hundreds of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. New research indicates they might have found even more except for one thing - some planets have fallen into their stars and simply no longer exist.

IU astronomer's discovery poses challenge to galaxy formation theories
A team led by an Indiana University astronomer has found a sample of massive galaxies with properties that suggest they may have formed relatively recently.

UK astronomers observe asteroid before it crashes into Earth
UK astronomers, using the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) William Herschel Telescope on La Palma, observed a rare asteroid as it was hurtling towards our planet and have captured the only spectrum of it before it exploded in our atmosphere.

Four of Saturn's moons parade by their parent
On 24 February 2009, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope captured a photo sequence of four moons of Saturn passing in front of their parent planet.

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope provides new evidence for dark matter around small galaxies
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has uncovered a strong new line of evidence that galaxies are embedded in halos of dark matter.

Astronomy's bright future
To mark UNESCO's International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009), six leading astronomers from the UK, the US, Europe and Asia write in March's Physics World about the biggest challenges and opportunities facing international astronomers over the next couple of decades.

Colors of Quasars Reveal a Dusty Universe
The vast expanses of intergalactic space appear to be filled with a haze of tiny, smoke-like "dust" particles that dim the light from distant objects and subtly change their colors, according to a team of astronomers from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-II).
More Astronomer Current Events and Astronomer News Articles
The Backyard Astronomer's Guide

The Backyard Astronomer's Guide
by Terence Dickinson (Author), Alan Dyer (Author)

The modern classic, completely updated.

The newest edition of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide includes the latest data and answers the questions most often asked by home astronomers, from beginners to experienced stargazers. Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer provide expert guidance on the right types of telescopes and other equipment; photographing the stars through a telescope; and star charts, software and other references. They cover daytime and twilight observing, planetary and deep-sky observing, and much more.

With over 500 color photographs and illustrations, The Backyard Astronomer's Guide is one of the most valuable, beautiful and user-friendly astronomy books ever produced.

New and updated for this edition:

A 20-page full-color Atlas of the...

God and the Astronomers Second Edition

God and the Astronomers Second Edition
by Robert Jastrow (Author)

If every effect in science has a cause, what caused the birth of the Universe? Have scientists brought themselves face to face with the possibility of God? In God and the Astronomers, Dr. Robert Jastrow, world-renowned astrophysicist, describes the astronomical discoveries of recent years and the theological implications of the new insights afforded by science into mankind's place in the cosmos. He explains the chain of events that forced astronomers, despite their initial reluctance ("Irritating," said Einstein; "Repugnant," said the great British astronomer Eddington; "I would like to reject it," said MIT physicist Philip Morrison) to accept the validity of the Big Bang and the fact that the universe began in a moment of creation.

The Reminiscences of an Astronomer

The Reminiscences of an Astronomer
by Optal eBooks

Formatted for the Kindle. Linked Contents.

CONTENTS
I
THE WORLD OF COLD AND DARKNESS
Ancestry. — Squire Thomas Prince. — Parentage. — Early Education. — Books read.
II
DR. FOSHAY
A Long Journey on Foot. — A Wonderful Doctor. — The Botanic System of Medicine. — Phrenology. — A Launch into the World. — A Disillusion. — Life in Maryland. — Acquaintance with Professor Henry. — Remova to Cambridge.
III
THE WORLD OF SWEETNESS AND LIGHT
The American Astronomical Ephemeris. — The Men who made it. — Harvard in the Middle of the Century. — A Librarian of the Time. — Professor Peirce. — Dr. Gould, the “Astronomical Journal,” and the Dudley Observatory. — W. P. G. Bartlett. — John D. Runkle and the “Mathematical Monthly.”...

When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer (Golden Kite Honors (Awards))

When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer (Golden Kite Honors (Awards))
by Walt Whitman (Author), Loren Long (Illustrator)

Leave time for wonder.

Walt Whitman's "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" is an enduring celebration of the imagination. Here, Whitman's wise words are beautifully recast by New York Times #1 best-selling illustrator Loren Long to tell the story of a boy's fascination with the heavens. Toy rocket in hand, the boy finds himself in a crowded, stuffy lecture hall. At first he is amazed by the charts and the figures. But when he finds himself overwhelmed by the pontifications of an academic, he retreats to the great outdoors and does something as universal as the stars themselves...

he dreams.

The Astronomer's Green Laser Pointer LED Flashlight.

The Astronomer's Green Laser Pointer LED Flashlight.
by Instapark

The Astronomer's Laser Flashlight. This is the tool preferred by astronomers at the Palomar Observatory that combines the unmatched brightness of a green laser pointer with a high-intensity flashlight. The 532nm green laser pointer is 20x brighter than lesser red laser pointers and provides an unmistakable beam of light that appears to reach the stars--ideal for identifying distant objects, whether a constellation or a mountain summit. The device also has three white LEDs for bright, direct light, and a red LED for ambient light capable of three levels of brightness, so you won't disturb fellow star gazers or a driver while you consult a map. The included three AAA batteries provide 20 hours of operation. Anodized aluminum construction. Includes 15" neck lanyard, belt pouch, and padded...

Paper Doll Set - Poet and Astronomer

Paper Doll Set - Poet and Astronomer
by eeBoo

Phoebe and Iris, Poet and Astronomer Paper Dolls Set is beautifully illustrated and made of sturdy cardboard. Set Includes 2 dolls that are almost 8 tall, two sheets of reusable electrostatic stick-on clothes, and a two-sided setting that stands up like a stage set for dramatic play. Platinum Best Toy Award Winner.

Like an Astronomer

Like an Astronomer
by Murkhouse Recordings



Practical Astronomer

Practical Astronomer
by Astrum Publishing

Practical Astronomer is the result of a search for a quality, amateur astronomy related magazine focusing on astrophotography and visual observing.

The Astronomers

The Astronomers
Starring: Vera C. Rubin, Tony Tyson, John Lowry Dobson, John E. Conway, Anthony C.S. Readhead
Directed By: Christine Z. Wiser, David F. Oyster, James F. Golway, Julio Moline, Linda Feferman
Also With: James F. Golway (Writer), Blaine Baggett (Producer), Donald Goldsmith (Writer)



Astronomer

Astronomer
by expert software



© 2009 BrightSurf.com