Berlin: Three new exoplanets have been discovered orbiting stars in the Messier 67 star cluster and one of them circles a star that is nearly identical to the Sun, according to European Southern Observatory, or ESO, officials.
The find, which was made using the ESO's new HARPS telescope instrument at the La Silla Observatory in Chile along with other telescopes around the world, is key because although more than 1,000 exoplanets have been found outside the solar system to date, very few of them are located in star clusters.
Study author Anna Brucalassi with Germany's Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics said in a statement that in the Messier 67 star cluster "the stars are all about the same age and composition as the sun".
"This makes it a perfect laboratory to study how many planets form in such a crowded environment and whether they form mostly around more massive or less massive stars," she added.
Messier 67, which contains about 500 stars, is located inside our own Milky Way galaxy about 2,500 light years from Earth in the constellation of Cancer.
During the study, three alien planets were discovered, two of which were found to be orbiting stars similar to the Sun while the third revolves around a red giant star.
The first two exoplanets each have about one-third the mass of Jupiter and circle their stars in just seven and five days, respectively, while the third takes 122 days to make its orbit and has a greater mass than Jupiter.
All three of the planets orbit too close to their host stars for liquid water to exist there, ESO officials said.
The research team verified that the first planet's host star is one of the most similar stars to the Sun ever found and the first solar "twin" with a planet ever pinpointed within a star cluster.
Comments
| Quick linksNews
National
International
Regional
Politics
Education & Career
Business
Science & Technology
Health
Views & Analysis
The Funny Side
© 2012 Awaz Multimedia & Publications. All rights reserved.
People behind the huge success of Malegaon Urdu Kitab MelaAnd when finally the Urdu Kitab Mela came to an end at around 11:00 pm on January 12, the Malegaonians had bought books worth Rs.87,48,757/- rupees – a record sale by any of the NCPUL's last 13 .... More
Also Read: 'All sold out' signs on most of stalls on last day of Malegaon Urdu book fair
Dubai Exhibition showcases life of Prophet MuhammadRecreating in miniature the city of Makkah exactly as it was 1,435 years ago, a new exhibit in Dubai opened doors under the name, Alssalamu Alaika Ayyuha Annabi (Peace be upon you, oh Prophet) inside the new Dubai International Holy Quran Award building. .... More
Also Read: 'Decide today to live The Prophet's Sunnah'
First anti incumbency factor is haunting the Congress party. Congress is now in power since 2004 and people are feeling fatigued with its rule. It is obvious that the anti Congress sentiments is going to be cashed by the BJP but will it be able to replace it is something questionable..... More
Abdullah made the announcement on the birth anniversary of his father and NC founder, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, in Srinagar despite Congress insiders telling IANS that the NC's coalition partner wanted to field its candidate for at least one..... More
