Possible newfound planet
Title

Possible newfound planet

Caption

In this artist's conception, a possible newfound planet spins through a clearing in a nearby star's dusty, planet-forming disc. This clearing was detected around the star CoKu Tau 4 by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Astronomers believe that an orbiting massive body, like a planet, may have swept away the star's disc material, leaving a central hole. The possible planet is theorized to be at least as massive as Jupiter, and may have a similar appearance to what the giant planets in our own solar system looked like billions of years ago. A graceful ring, much like Saturn's, spins high above the planet's cloudy atmosphere. The ring is formed from countless small orbiting particles of dust and ice

Date

21th century

Credit line

Photo12/Ann Ronan Picture Library

Reference

ARP15A02_205

License type

Rights managed

Available size

51,3Mb (1,4Mb) / 16,3in x 12,2in / 4890 x 3668 (300dpi)

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