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Orion1
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One of NASA's space telescopes has discovered what scientists believe may be the youngest planet ever spied -- a celestial body that at 1 million years old or less is a cosmic toddler.
Spitzer is an infrared telescope that has been orbiting the sun and studying the universe since last summer. It did not actually "see" the toddler planet, but yielded evidence that enabled scientists to infer its existence.
The object is in the constellation Taurus, 420 light-years away -- quite close by astronomy standards. It is believed to be on the inner edge of a planet-forming dusty disk that encircles a million-year-old star.
Reference:
http://www.sltrib.com/2004/may/05282004/nation_w/170495.asp
Spitzer is an infrared telescope that has been orbiting the sun and studying the universe since last summer. It did not actually "see" the toddler planet, but yielded evidence that enabled scientists to infer its existence.
The object is in the constellation Taurus, 420 light-years away -- quite close by astronomy standards. It is believed to be on the inner edge of a planet-forming dusty disk that encircles a million-year-old star.
Reference:
http://www.sltrib.com/2004/may/05282004/nation_w/170495.asp