Astronomers Witness Youngest Planet’s Birth for the First Time
- Posted on October 20, 2011 at 4:34pm by
Liz Klimas
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Witnessing birth of any kind is a miracle to see, but witnessing the birth of a brand new planet is especially rare. In fact, scientists have just now taken the first photographs of such a newly forming planet.
This chart shows the location of LkCa 15 b (Photo: Adam Kraus/IAU/Sky & Telescope)
“LkCa 15 b is the youngest planet ever found, about five times younger than the previous record holder,” said Adam Kraus, lead author and astronomer at the University of Hawaii, in a statement. “For the first time, we’ve been able to directly measure the planet itself as well as the dusty matter around it.”
Researchers believe LkCA 15 b is a hot “protoplanet” surrounded by a swath of cooler dust and gas, which is falling into the still-forming planet. And as Space.com reports, it’s a “big baby:”
As far as infants go, LkCa15 b looks like a whopper, perhaps harboring as much mass as six Jupiters. But since the planet is still forming, it could end up being considerably smaller, Kraus explained.
“A lot of the light that we’re seeing from this object could be released by this material falling on it,” he said. “So, six Jupiter masses should really be regarded as an upper limit. It may be that very little of the light is coming from the planet, and it could be much less massive.”
However big it is, the alien world is definitely young. Its parent star, which is about as massive as the sun, is only about 2 million years old, Kraus said.
In order to see the planet, researchers had to used a technique called aperture mask interferometry with Keck’s Adaptive Optics, which allowed the manipulate light waves to cancel out bright light of stars and see the dimmer planet forming.
“Interferometry has actually been around since the 1800’s, but through the use of adaptive optics has only been able to reach nearby young suns for about the last 7 years.” said Michael Ireland, who presented their findings at the NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center on Oct. 19. “Since then we’ve been trying to push the technique to its limits using the biggest telescopes in the world, especially Keck.”
This image presents a composite of two reconstructed images (blue: 2.1 microns, from November 2010; red: 3.7 microns) for LkCa 15. (Image: Kraus & Ireland, 2011)
he transitional disk around the star LkCa 15. All of the light at this wavelength is emitted by cold dust in the disk. the hole in the center indicates an inner gap with radius of about 55 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun. Right: An expanded view of the central part of the cleared region, showing a composite of two reconstructed images (blue: 2.1 microns, from November 2010; red: 3.7 microns) for LkCa 15. The location of the central star is also marked. (Photo: Kraus & Ireland, 2011)
Researching 15 “dusty stars” specifically, Kraus and Ireland are gathering data on planet and solar system formation.
“LkCa 15 was only our second target, and we immediately knew we were seeing something new,” said Kraus. “We could see a faint point source near the star, so thinking it might be a Jupiter-like planet we went back a year later to get more data.”
[H/T Popular Science]
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Steev
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:33pmSoros to Obumble : ” Allright, since your not able to deliver me the final link in the chain of world domination and your steadily losing ground with that endeavor thanks to that Beck guy and your taking bites that are way too big, develop faster than light travel before you completly bankrupt everything so I will be able to colonize that planet and rule over it’s inhabitants ” . ALTHOUGH I SAY THIS IN JEST – MOSTLY – WOULD YOU REALLY BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS TRUE ?
Report Post »God-Gold-Guns
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 6:59pmyo,ELECTRICWISDOM, what “proof” do you have. Please share.
Report Post »ThePaul
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 10:27pmDude he was in the process of explaining. The more you study into Evolution the more you find it’s hilarious junk. The best way to find out the truth is to study it yourself.
Report Post »Rawtheran
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:55pmIt’s nice to see God create a new planet.
Report Post »hawken
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:18pmAwe that is sweet, and fairies will sprinkle fairy dust on the planet also? Its just the natural forces at work.
Report Post »ev_mybryan
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:22pmAmen! God is good!
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:29pmYea, it’s nice to see god create a “new” planet 450 light years ago.. When I’m bored I also like to make lifeless balls of dust and gas for fun and send them in orbit around a thermonuclear reactor. Damn good purpose for it too.
Report Post »commonsense2012
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 11:41amCommon sense is always the best barometer. The bottom line is that creationism is faith based with some science fact to support it. Evolution is based on scientific theory with little if any facts to support it which actually makes it faith based as well. So we have evolution and creationism both as faith based. One does not necessarily cancel out the other.
Report Post »ElectricWisdom
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:21pmCOMMONSENSE2012
Yes Evolution is faith based because there is no scientific evidence to support it. There are only 2 choices, either everything made itself by random natural processes, or it was designed by a Creator. Evolution has been disproved by science, every step of the way, starting with the 1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics. The Only logical choice is that it was designed by a creator.
The law of Biogenesis says that life only comes from life. Therefore the first life came from something already living. Also, the only known source of “Information” comes from a pre-existing intelligence, and the intelligence is always smarter than the information. The DNA code and the RNA decoder of the simpliest organism is far more complex than anything man has developed. The first organism requires a pre-existing living mind containing intelligence. I can list 15 scientific impossibilities why life can not create itself from non living chemicals all by it’s self.
If evolution were true, there should be billions of missing links from a single cell organism to every other kind of organism. Not a one has been found. This is consistant with Bible as all things were created after their kinds.
Even the very Laws of Physics, their fine tuning, shows a creator, that is why evolutionists BELIEVE in multiverses which cannot be proven, to try and overcome the Anthropic Principle.
One definitely cancels out the other. Creation and Evolution are opposites and do go together be
Report Post »ElectricWisdom
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 11:18amMAPROG
You assume I don’t know about biology, you are wrong again.
My challenge was not limited the realm of Cosmology, which you did not even attempt to answer.
My challenge was to prove just one single fact to ANY aspect of evolution as being true.
You mention biology, and give no proof, because you have none. You just resort to name calling because that’s all you have.
I officially just won that debate also. 2 down.
Next.
Report Post »countryfirst
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 10:40amNow all the peace and tranquility, I feel sorry if in 4 billion years a liberal may evolve and ruin everything
Report Post »South Philly Boy
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:37amI personally love Milky Way
Report Post »ballsofFe
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:06amYou know I really hate those planets, but gosh they’re cute when they’re young.
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 7:01amanybody hear the big bang???
Report Post »for-what-its-worth
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:15amOLD WHITE GUY
anybody hear the big bang???
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isn’t that just a theory? ;-)
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:30pmIt is just a theory… Just like Germ theory.. Now are you gonna skip out on the antibiotics since it’s just a theory?
Report Post »jmbogstad
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:54amI like to look at it this way. We are actually seeing into the past. Imagine if we could launch a satelite that travels away form Earth faster than the speed of light, and it could focus a telescope back at the planet, and then braodcast that signal to us. We could actually watch time move backwards. If the telescope were powerful enought to see people on the planet, we could eventually watch the Founding Fathers writing the Constitution. Roll that around in your noggin a while.
Report Post »alps91
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 8:32amThat is actually incorrect. 1) It is theorized to be impossible to get matter the size of a satellite to move at greater than the speed of light. We have found some neutrinos that can, but that is the only case recorded. But since that is just a theory, that is not where you are wrong. 2) If a satellite is moving away from us at greater than the speed of light, it couldn’t communicate with us at all. It would be like throwing a baseball 70 mph out of the back of a 80 mph car. The baseball is not moving backwards, just more slowly forwards. Similarly, if you tried to broadcast from such a satellite the waves would still be moving away from us as all radio and other waves are limited to the speed of light as they are pure radiation waves.
Report Post »loadingmyclips
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:12amsmoke what??
Report Post »krenshau
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 6:18pmAlps91, I suppose that’s why he used the word imagine.
Report Post »paleoconservatarian
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:50amWe really do live in interesting times. The stuff we know now would’ve been impossible to know at the times of our births.
Report Post »Eh2Zed
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:29amIn 2000 MIT did a study titled The Sum of Human Knowledge. It explained that out of the entire history of man, 95% of all human knowledged was learned from 1900 – 2000. Of that 95%, 99% has been learned in the last 55 years. One Life time.
Report Post »FoundingPrinciples
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:03amBut thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. ~ Daniel 12:4
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:41amI have a question for you all…If upon forming, this new planet is 6 times the size of Jupiter, wouldn’t that create a HUGE domino effect in the gravitational pull of other heavenly bodies to one degree or another, depending on their proximity? And, if so, wouldn’t this cause their orbits to be greatly altered? Perhaps causing an ELE?
Report Post »Eh2Zed
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:26amIts 457 Light years away. What we are witnessing happened in the middle ages. Its not in our system.
Report Post »not2bherd
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 11:14pmFear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom V-Forge and I do not see a great deal of either in your post. Death came into the world as the result of the sin of a man, not before as would be needed for evolution to have occurred. After creation God looked at all He had made and said “It is good”. As one who knows and follows Christ, it would be good for you to read the written word that He left for us to get to know Him.
Report Post »Moscovian
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 6:02amThe Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork. Psalm 19:1
I think this news is wonderful. God spun this Universe into action and allow us to live in it. To ignore its wonders seems to me to show a lack of gratitude.
Report Post »ElectricWisdom
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:35pmCHFIELDS62
There is no such thing as govmint schooling just as there is no such a thing as Evolution. Government schooling teaches evolution, you are being contradictory and irrational.
Einstein said, it doesn’t take a consensus of scientists to disprove my theory, all it takes is one fact.
Obviously you can’t give one single shred of proof for evolution, so you resort to name calling.
I officially just won that debate.
Next.
Report Post »MAProg
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:46amWait, so the fact that you’re utterly ignorant about the topic of evolutionary biology means you won the debate? That sure is an interesting way to win arguments. Scientific types like myself would call that an argument from incredulity. Rather, I might call it a typical creationist argument, because it allows you to feel good about your beliefs without actually having to know anything about the world beyond what a book tells you. Maybe do some reading on the topic (not AIG or Creation Ministries) for a change.
Report Post »selenesteets
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:14pmSee? God grows bigger every day. Fun story!
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:52pmneat!
Report Post »ElectricWisdom
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:47pmWhat a Joke.
No one has ever seen a planet form.
No one has ever seen a star form.
All they see is light coming from a source and BELIEVE that it’s a planet forming. Scientists have no clue how stars form nor how planets form. They BELIEVE that the near by star is 2 million years old, they don’t know that nor can they prove it. They also BELIEVE that this near star is the parent of this light source, which they also don’t know, nor can they prove that.
Since Evolution goes against all known laws of science and there is not one single shred of evidence for it; Tell me, Exactly how did this near by star produce this so called planet?
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:02pmwell you certainly have all the answers, why not tell us.
Report Post »chfields62
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:05pm“Since Evolution goes against all known laws of science and there is not one single shred of evidence for it; Tell me, Exactly how did this near by star produce this so called planet?”
Obviously another graduate of govmint schooling……………….
Report Post »V-Forge
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:20pmI smell troll. or misguided. I am a christian and believe in creation. I also know that there is no result of complex systems that do not require a process by which it is built. It would be silly to look at a row of houses and assume that they just appeared there with no process by which they were constructed. I don’t think that man was simply created in a flash, i think that the evolutionary process was a dandy method of construction. If you don’t like the idea that we lived in trees in the past then you are free to believe what you wish but god created souls. In that way we are in his image. Unless you can explain why god might have sexual organs or the need to eat and sleep. There are perfectly rational explanations that include both creation and evolution. If you fail to accept that then it’s your problem. i would however suggest some searching of that soul to find a reason why you would stick to nonsensical belief in magic. Science is not the enemy of god it’s his method of teaching us to become more like him. Man and his vanity are the enemy of god. I think both sides of the argument should review the possibilities of each side of that issue and both admit that the methods of god are beyond our understanding but we are slowly learning. You will not be spending eternity on bent knee shouting hosanna, you will be part of the community of heaven. A blind follower is a slave to their own weaknesses but a wise follower and believer is a friend of god.
Report Post »country_hick
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:09pmchfields62;
The star didn’t form the planet. The planet is a byproduct of the stellar accretion disk.
As a believer in a Supreme Being I can very easily reconcile both divine intervention and evolution. I don’t happen to believe that God, Supreme Being, Goddess, whatever you happen to believe in is as uptight as a lot of people believe. He/She/It could very well created life then decided to allow evolution to take place or, just as likely, created ‘man’ and decided to mess with him and planted the thunder lizard bones… How else can you explain the Platypus and Blaze trolls?
Report Post »schmite123oh
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:09amCareful what you flirt with V-forge.
18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence.
Report Post »schmite123oh
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:30am@country Hick, again, be careful what you flirt with.
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:32pmThat ai NOTHING compared to what it’s going to be like to see the new Earth descending down from God for us. No immoral PC libs allowed.
Report Post »nightingalern
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:42pmI so agree with you !!! Amen!!
Report Post »tearsforfears
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:45amAmen!!!
Report Post »linda haupt
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:27pmwhat would the liberal non-believers say about the big bang theory now!
Report Post »kevindean3
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:18pmWow. Sorry, I don’t see it.
Report Post »jackact
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 6:58pmA new planet – free of socialism.
Report Post »Happy Days!
hazmat_factor
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:16pmNews Flash: President obummer presents new tax on unlicensed planet births.
Report Post »Againstallenemies
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:08amMaybe this planet can prove its citizenship?
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 6:46pmHappy Birthday!
Report Post »peteasdf
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 6:44pmHey Frank, what do you do all day? Look at colorful blobs on my computer screen.
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