Could This Be the First Photo of an Extrasolar Planet?

  • Thread starter Thread starter meteor
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Photo Planet
AI Thread Summary
Astronomers in Chile may have captured the first direct image of an extrasolar planet orbiting the star 2M1207, located 230 light-years away. The star is notably smaller and fainter than the Sun, raising interest in the potential discovery. While there is evidence supporting the object's classification as a planet, further observations over the next year or two are necessary to confirm its status. Specifically, tracking its movement relative to the star will be crucial in determining if it is indeed a planet. This discovery could significantly advance our understanding of planetary systems beyond our own.
meteor
Messages
937
Reaction score
0
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3644410.stm
"Astronomers working in Chile think they may have taken the first direct image of a planet circling another star.
The star, called 2M1207, is 230 light-years away and is very much smaller and fainter than our own Sun."


I'm gazing at this little red dot and here seems so near, but is really so far away...
OK. Do you think that is really a planet?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Here's a more detailed http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2004/pr-23-04.html .

There's quite a bit going for this one as a real planet ... but, as they say in the PR, it will take another year or two for any significantly different data to strengthen the case one way or the other - how does this object move (on the sky) wrt the apparent parent? If it's not a planet, it will very likely show clear relative motion in that time.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Thread '3I/ATLAS, Interstellar Comet'

3I/ATLAS, also known as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and formerly designated as A11pl3Z, is an iinterstellar comet. It was discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) station at Río Hurtado, Chile on 1 July 2025. Note: it was mentioned (as A11pl3Z) by DaveE in a new member's introductory thread. https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/brian-cox-lead-me-here.1081670/post-7274146 https://earthsky.org/space/new-interstellar-object-candidate-heading-toward-the-sun-a11pl3z/ One...
View full post »

Thread 'How feasible is home radio astronomy?'

Is a homemade radio telescope realistic? There seems to be a confluence of multiple technologies that makes the situation better than when I was a wee lad: software-defined radio (SDR), the easy availability of satellite dishes, surveillance drives, and fast CPUs. Let's take a step back - it is trivial to see the sun in radio. An old analog TV, a set of "rabbit ears" antenna, and you're good to go. Point the antenna at the sun (i.e. the ears are perpendicular to it) and there is...
View full post »

Similar threads

I How Can We Measure Properties of Distant Planets and Stars?
Replies
12
Views
3K
How Many Stars Can Detectable Wobbles Reveal Extrasolar Planets?
Replies
1
Views
5K
B A terrestrial, temperate planet around Proxima Centauri
2
Replies
60
Views
11K
Stargazing What do stars actually look like from up close?
Replies
2
Views
3K
The Planet That Should Not Exist
Replies
9
Views
5K
Are researchers really this interested in 'Planet 9'
Replies
6
Views
2K
First Photo of planet circling another star
Replies
4
Views
6K
Kepler22b-first exoplanet found in hab-zone of sun-like star
Replies
37
Views
15K
Is Gliese 581d a Goldilocks planet?
2
Replies
52
Views
12K
French claim first habitable planet found
Replies
4
Views
4K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top