VB 10b
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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] Astronomer Wladimir Lyra (2009) has proposed Elbrus as possible common name for VB 10 b.[3].
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 necessary[4] spectroscopic observations have failed to confirm the existence of the planet.[5]
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 William Herschel himself. Since the 1950s Peter Van de Kamp, as well as others of his staff, claimed planetary systems for Barnard's Star and other nearby stars. In 1996 George Gatewood made a sensational claim of planets orbiting the nearby star Lalande 21185.[6] Subsequent analysis and further observations have been unable confirm any of these past claims, which are now considered discredited. This poor record, along with the recent failure of radial velocity surveys to confirm the presence of a large mass companion around VB10,[5] causes any claim of extrasolar planet discovery based on astrometry to be met with skepticism.[7]
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.
- ^ Lyra (2009). "Naming the extrasolar planets": 1–28. Bibcode:2009arXiv0910.3989L.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ 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) - ^ a b Bean, Jacob (2009). "The CRIRES Search for Planets Around the Lowest-Mass Stars. II. No Giant Planet Orbiting VB10". arXiv:0912.0003 [astro-ph.EP].
{{cite arXiv}}: Unknown parameter|accessdate=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|version=ignored (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.
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