Astronomers (probably) take 1st direct pix of planet orbiting star

William Atkins
Tuesday, 16 September 2008 18:54

Science - Space

Canadian astronomers have discovered and photographed for the first time what they think is a normal sized exosolar planet (exoplanet) orbiting a star other than the Sun. However, if true it could change our theories of planet formation.


In the past exosolar planets, or exoplanets, have only been able to be discovered indirectly, by looking for the gravitational interaction of their parent stars and the planets themselves.

However, this is the first supposed direct image of a exoplanet—that is, if it indeed turns out to be a planet orbiting a normal star (not a giant planet like Jupiter and Saturn) other than the Sun.

The Canadian astronomers and researchers making this important discovery in astronomy include David Lafrenière, Ray Jayawardhana, and Marten H. van Kerkwijk, all from the University of Toronto, Canada.

The summary of their work is found within the article “Direct Imaging and Spectroscopy of a Planetary Mass Candidate Companion to a Young Solar Analog.”

It was submitted to the http://xxx.lanl.gov/ website on September 8, 2008. The article will also appear in a future issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

The planetary body, which currently is not named nor classified, was found using near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy from the Gemini North telescope, which sits on top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

Further descriptions and information on the planet and its star are found on page two.