Large Planet Found Orbiting Nearby Star
Astronomers announced the discovery of a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a nearby star on Thursday, boosting their confidence that there are many more planets to be found, perhaps even some that harbor life.
The object orbiting Rho Coronae Borealis joins at least 18 others believed to be circling other stars.
The discovery was announced Thursday by Robert Noyes of the Harvard-Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and seven other astronomers.
The new planet is 23 million miles from its star, or about a quarter of the distance between the sun and Earth. The star is close by astronomical standards, about 50 light-years from Earth.
Because the planet is closer to its star than Mercury is to the sun, its surface temperature is estimated at 400 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s much too hot to support life, but there’s a good chance that more livable planets could exist, scientists said.
