Jupiter size planet rotating around a star

2001/08/17 Imaz Amiano, Eneko - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Astronomia

The
discovery has been located in the constellation of the Great Bear and is the second planet that revolves around star 47 Ursae Majoris. It is about 3/4 the size of Jupiter and the distance back to its star in our planetary system is similar to that of Mars and Jupiter. 47 Being the second planet that revolves around the star Ursae Majoris, it can be said that they form the planetary system, and also, taking into account the orbit, the nature of the star and the size of the planets, the research team of the University of California at Berkeley, which has made the discovery, states that it is the most similar to our planetary system.

Two planets of similar size to Jupiter have circular orbit and both are gaseous. Star 47 Ursae Majoris, axis of the orbit, is also similar to our Sun, is 51 light years from us and is believed to be about 7 billion years old.

Since 1987, astronomers have discovered about 100 planets. They use 3 and 0.6 metre telescopes from the University of California's Lick Observatory and take advantage of the light of the Doppler effect. The article on the discovery of the new planet will be published in the Astrophysical Journal.

Of course, the discovery will serve to expand information on planetary systems, but it has also served to launch speculations about water and life, of course!