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Extreme Solar Systems: Why Aren’t We Finding Other Planetary Systems Like Our Own?
Artist concept of a previous multi-planet solar system found by the Kepler spacecraft. Credit: NASA/Tim Pyle
Most planetary systems found by astronomers so far are quite different than our own. Many have giant planets whizzing around in a compact configuration, very close to their star. An extreme case in point is a newly found solar system that was announced on October 15, 2012 which packs five — count ‘em — five planets into a region less than one-twelve the size of Earth’s orbit!
“This is an extreme example of a compact solar system,” said researcher Darin Ragozzine from the University of Florida, speaking at a press conference at the American Astronomical Society’s Division for Planetary Sciences meeting. “If we can understand this one, hopefully we can understand how these types of systems form and why most known planetary systems appear different from our own solar system.”
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Read the rest of Extreme Solar Systems: Why Aren’t We Finding Other Planetary Systems Like Our Own? (602 words)
© nancy for Universe Today, 2012. | Permalink | No comment |
Post tags: Darin Ragozzine, Extrasolar Planets, Kepler mission, KOI-500
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2012-10-16 03:45:01
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