Image of a Newly Formed Planet in a Disk Around a Star

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SUMMARY

A newly formed planet, designated PDS 70b, has been visualized in the protoplanetary disk surrounding the star PDS 70. Discovered by the Kepler space telescope, PDS 70b is significantly more massive than Jupiter and possesses a cloudy atmosphere with temperatures reaching approximately 1000°C. Research published in Astronomy & Astrophysics by a team led by Müller utilized various orbital and atmospheric models to estimate the planet's size, mass, and orbit, revealing its position at a distance comparable to that of Uranus from the Sun.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of protoplanetary disks
  • Familiarity with the Kepler space telescope
  • Knowledge of atmospheric modeling techniques
  • Basic concepts of planetary formation and characteristics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the methods used in orbital and atmospheric modeling for exoplanets
  • Explore the characteristics of protoplanetary disks and their role in planet formation
  • Study the findings of the Astronomy & Astrophysics paper on PDS 70b
  • Investigate the implications of high-temperature atmospheres in planetary science
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysicists, and students interested in planetary formation and the study of exoplanets will benefit from this discussion.

BillTre
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A new planet has been visualized in a protoplanetary disk around a star.

It's the bright thing at about 4 o'clock. Star (PDS 70) is blocked out.
eso1821a-1280x720_0.jpg


Science magazine news article here.
 

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Astronomy news on Phys.org
Heh. It was discovered by "Keppler".
 
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Amazing, thanks for the pic!

But why is the planet bright? Is it on its way to becoming some sort of dwarf star and perhaps not a planet as such?IH
 
Islam Hassan said:
But why is the planet bright? Is it on its way to becoming some sort of dwarf star and perhaps not a planet as such?

According to the article:
In another paper published today in Astronomy & Astrophysics, a separate group led by Müller estimated the size, mass, temperature, and orbit of the planet by plugging all the information into various orbital and atmospheric models. The group predicts that PDS 70b is several times more massive than Jupiter, with a cloudy atmosphere that hits temperatures of around 1000°C, despite orbiting its star at roughly the same distance as Uranus from the sun.
 

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