The planetary system around the Sun-like star HD 10180 (artist’s impression)

This artist’s impression shows the remarkable planetary system around the Sun-like star HD 10180. Observations with the HARPS spectrograph, attached to ESO’s 3.6-metre telescope at La Silla, Chile, have revealed the definite presence of five planets and evidence for two more in orbit around this star. This system is similar to the Solar System in terms of number of planets and the presence of a regular pattern in the sizes of the orbits. If confirmed the closest planet detected would be the lightest yet known outside the Solar System, with a mass that could be only about 1.4 times that of the Earth.

The large crescent is the third world in the system (HD 10180d), which is comparable to the planet Neptune in mass. The two inner planets appear as silhouettes in transit across the bright disc of the star. The outer planets in the system appear in the background sky.

Crediti:

ESO/L. Calçada

Riguardo l'immagine

Identificazione:eso1035a
Tipo:Illustrazione
Data di rilascio:Martedì 24 Agosto 2010 10:00
Notizie relative:eso1035
Grandezza:4000 x 2827 px

Riguardo all'oggetto

Nome:HD 10180
Tipo:Milky Way : Star : Circumstellar Material : Planetary System
Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Main Sequence
Distanza:130 Anni luce
Categoria:Exoplanets
Illustrations

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