Wow!
This is not an infrared image, this is not a radio image, and this is not an artist's rendition. This is an actual visible-light photograph of another planet in another solar system.
Wow again!
The system is a bright star called Fomalhaut, about 25 light-years from us in the constellation Piscis Australis, or the "Southern Fish." Scientists have long suspected their first glimpse of another planet would be in this system since data suggested a large body was causing gravitational distortions to a cloud of dust orbiting the star which is very similar to our Kuiper Belt.
Says one of the scientists on the project: "Fomalhaut is the gift that keeps on giving. Following the unexpected discovery of its dust ring, we have now found an exoplanet at a location suggested by analysis of the dust ring's shape. The lesson for exoplanet hunters is 'follow the dust'."
NASA has ambition plans for further study of the Fomalhaut system. They're planning on launching the James Webb Space Telescope in 2013. Its mission will be to make coronagraphic observations of Fomalhaut in the near- and mid-infrared. Webb will be able to hunt for other planets in the system and probe the region interior to the dust ring for structures such as an inner asteroid belt.
That's all!
--->Susan
2 comments:
Too cool for words, but you managed it mate ;)
'Tis my job mate!
--->Susan
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