First direct image of a cool planet orbiting a sun-like star

Research report (imported) 2010 - Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

Authors
Thalmann, Christian; Carson, Joseph; Janson, Markus; Goto, Miwa; Egner, Sebastian; Feldt, Markus; Henning, Thomas; Klahr, Hubert; Mordasini, Christoph
Departments
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Heidelberg
Summary
The very first observations with HiCIao, the world’s newest instrument in the search for extrasolar planets, have led to the discovery of G 758 B, the low-brightness companion of the star GJ 758. This is possibly the first direct observation of a cool extrasolar planet orbiting a Sun-like star. The mass of GJ 758 B is estimated to be between 10 and 40 Jupiter masses. The temperature of GJ 758 B – 600 Kelvin (330 degrees Celsius) – makes it the coldest companion of a Sun-like star ever to be imaged directly, and thus the companion most similar to the planets of the solar system.

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