Nature & Science News
ClearlyExplained.Com

ClearlyExplained.Com

Planemos (Planetary Mass Objects) may create mini solar systems

7 June 2006
by Carina Lee

Objects only a few times more massive than Jupiter are born with discs of dust and gas, characteristic of forming planets, have been observed by astronomers from the European Southern Observatory. Planemos (planetary mass objects) are small objects which scientist have discovered to be lighter than extra-solar planets that float around in space instead of orbiting other stars, and could very well be occupying their own mini solar system. The leader of this study, Ray Jayawardhana from the University of Toronto, explains “Now that we know of these planetary mass objects with their own little infant planetary systems, the definition of the word 'planet' has blurred even more.” He made this comment in reference to previous astronomical discoveries, where different properties of space objects such as exoplanets are currently being investigated. Scientists predict that these mini solar systems will expand and extend as time progresses.

The brown dwarf, dubbed 2M1207 for short and located 170 light-years from Earth, was known to be surrounded by a disc. Now, this team has found evidence for a disc around the eight-Jupiter-mass companion as well. image: ESO

Related Links

Original story from ESO

Nature & Science News
ClearlyExplained.com