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Here There Be Planets: Stellar Disk Gap May Reveal Newborn Worlds

Monday, November 12, 2012 19:52

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(Before It's News)

HiCIAO near-infrared image of the protoplanetary disk around PDS 70. The circular mask hides the star itself, as well as a smaller internal disk structure. (Credit: NAOJ)

Over the past couple of decades astronomers have figured out several methods for finding planets around other stars in our galaxy. Some have revelaed their presence by the slight “wobble” they impart to their host stars as they orbit, while others have been discovered as they pass in front of their stars from our perspective, briefly dimming the light we see.

Now, some astronomers think they may have identified the presence of multiple planets, based on a large gap found in the disk of gas and dust surrounding a Sun-like star 460 light-years from Earth.

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Read the rest of Here There Be Planets: Stellar Disk Gap May Reveal Newborn Worlds (444 words)

© Jason Major for Universe Today, 2012. | Permalink | 2 comments |
Post tags: exoplanets, infrared, NAOJ, PDS 70, protoplanetary disk, SEEDS, Subaru, telescope