VB 10b
Template:Planetbox begin Template:Planetbox image Template:Planetbox star Template:Planetbox orbit Template:Planetbox character Template:Planetbox discovery Template:Planetbox catalog Template:Planetbox reference Template:Planetbox end
In May of 2009 astronomers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California announced the astrometric discovery of a planet, VB 10b, using the 200 in (5.1 m) Hale telescope at the Palomar Observatory. If confirmed, the extrasolar planet will be the first discovered using this method.[1][2]
VB 10b is reported to orbit the the very small red dwarf star VB 10 about 20 light years away in the constellation of Aquila. This planetary object is reported to be a gas giant about the size of Jupiter although it is reported to have approximately six times the mass. This planetary system is also unique in the ratio of the mass of the planet to the mass of the star. Up to 10% of the mass of this entire star-planet system could be in the planet. This combination of a very small star with a very massive planet makes the star's wobble more apparent according to the discovery report.[1]
Spectroscopic measurements of VB 10 show it to have radial velocity variability with an amplitude of about 1 km/s, consistent with predictions based on the astrometric measurements, and hence consistent with the existence of VB 10b. However, further observations are necessary before the existence of the planet can be considered spectroscopically confirmed. [3]
Past claims based on astrometry
VB 10b is not the first extrasolar planet claimed to be found by astrometry. Many claims of unseen planetary companions affecting the perceived motions of nearby stars have been made since the 18th century, beginning with Herschel himself. Since the 1960s Peter Van de Kamp claimed a planetary system was orbiting Barnard's Star. In 1996 George Gatewood made a sensational claim of planets orbiting the nearby star Lalande 21185.[4] Subsequent analysis and further observations have been unable confirm any of these past claims which are now considered discredited. Because of this poor historical record, any claim of extrasolar planet discovery based on astrometry is met with skepticism.[5]
References
- ^ a b Pravdo; et al. (2009). "An Ultracool Star's Candidate Planet" (PDF). Submitted to the Astrophysical Journal. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
{{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in:|last1=(help)arXiv:0906.0544 absrtact - ^ "Planet-Hunting Method Succeeds at Last". NASA NEWS, NEWS RELEASE: 2009-090. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
- ^ Zapatero Osorio; et al. (2009). "Infrared radial velocities of vB 10". In press at Astronomy and Astrophysics. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
{{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in:|last1=(help) - ^ John Wilford (1996-06-12). "Data Seem to Show a Solar System Nearly in the Neighborhood". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "Astronomers Pioneer New Method for Finding Exoplanets". Sky and Telescope. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
 | This extrasolar-planet-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |