Is a Miniature Solar System Being Born?

In summary, astronomers have discovered what they believe is the birth of the smallest known solar system, located 500 light years away in the constellation Chamaeleon. It consists of a brown dwarf, less than one hundredth the mass of the sun, surrounded by a disk of dust and gas. This brown dwarf is undergoing a planet-forming process and could one day yield a solar system. However, it is much smaller and colder than our own solar system, with a "star" that fails to attain fusion and is only about ten times the mass of Jupiter.
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Astronuc
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Possible Miniature Solar System Discovered

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Astronomers have discovered what they believe is the birth of the smallest known solar system. Peering through ground- and space-based telescopes, scientists observed a brown dwarf — or failed star — less than one hundredth the mass of the sun surrounded by what appears to be a disk of dust and gas.

The brown dwarf — located 500 light years away in the constellation Chamaeleon — appears to be undergoing a planet-forming process that could one day yield a solar system, said Kevin Luhman of Pennsylvania State University, who led the discovery.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051130/ap_on_sc/tiny_solar_system;_ylt=AkzJivxvW0DGRbs1ZW0JAzRxieAA;_ylu=X3oDMTA4NmhocGZ1BHNlYwMxNzAw [Broken]
 
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Astronuc said:
Possible Miniature Solar System Discovered
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051130/ap_on_sc/tiny_solar_system;_ylt=AkzJivxvW0DGRbs1ZW0JAzRxieAA;_ylu=X3oDMTA4NmhocGZ1BHNlYwMxNzAw [Broken]


Its going to be a very cold system with a "star" that fails to attain fusion (and thus, isn't really a star). In fact, that's only about ten times the mass of Jupiter.
 
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  • #3
yes,compared with our solar system .
 
  • #4
I think that I just figured out where Pengwino is from... :uhh:
 

1. What makes this new solar system different from others?

This new solar system is unique because it contains a large, Jupiter-sized planet in a close orbit around its star. This is different from our own solar system, where Jupiter is located in a much farther orbit.

2. How many planets are in this new solar system?

Currently, we have only detected and confirmed the presence of three planets in this new solar system. However, there could potentially be more that we have not yet detected.

3. Is this new solar system habitable?

We do not yet have enough information to determine if any of the planets in this new solar system are habitable. However, based on their distance from the star and their composition, it is possible that one or more could potentially support life.

4. How did scientists discover this new solar system?

This new solar system was discovered using the transit method, where scientists observe changes in a star's brightness caused by a planet passing in front of it. This allows us to infer the presence and characteristics of the planet.

5. What does this new solar system teach us about the universe?

This new solar system adds to our understanding of the diversity and complexity of solar systems in the universe. It also provides valuable insights into the formation and evolution of planetary systems, which can help us better understand our own solar system.

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