NASA | Zombie Fomalhaut b: Study of Hubble Data Revives a 'Dead' Exoplanet

A second look at data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is reanimating the claim that the nearby star Fomalhaut hosts a massive exoplanet. The study suggests that the planet, named Fomalhaut b, is a rare and possibly unique object that is completely shrouded by dust.




Fomalhaut is the brightest star in the constellation Piscis Austrinus and lies 25 light-years away.

In November 2008, Hubble astronomers announced the exoplanet, named Fomalhaut b, as the first one ever directly imaged in visible light around another star. The object was imaged just inside a vast ring of debris surrounding but offset from the host star. The planet's location and mass -- about three times Jupiter's -- seemed just right for its gravity to explain the ring's appearance.

Recent studies have claimed that this planetary interpretation is incorrect. Based on the object's apparent motion and the lack of an infrared detection by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, they argue that the object is a short-lived dust cloud unrelated to any planet.

A new analysis, however, brings the planet conclusion back to life.

The full paper is available here: http://arxiv.org/abs/1210.6620

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• Category

  Science & Technology

[propreno]

If you don't make Science fun and entertaining,

young boys and girls might just lose interest.

And that would not be a good thing..

[Jarathor]

That's a pretty vitriolic sentiment... they're just having a laugh, what's wrong with that?

[JuKimNina]

Lol, especially the very, very end :)

[artman40]

Since Fomalhaut is massive and orbits far from Fomalhaut, I assume that this planet would have a massive Hill sphere. I wonder if it's massive enough so its moons could have moons of their own.

[iBeaconBlawk]

WEEEE nasa and spitzer are awesome!

[jigold22571]

Hmmm.Thank U.

[nutkee]

Gayest and dumbest video ever seen on the whole net since the internet

[rochelimit55555]

Happy Halloween! Lol

[jlyxxy8]

Keep your children close? Sort of an odd conclusion...

[LeadFail]

what a SHIT comment

[DaFlam676]

Its a joke saying that the scientist thought it didn't exist to existing again, thus "resurrecting". So it like saying a pencil that you saw sitting on a table wasn't there anymore but now is back again. SO IT MUST BE A ZOMBIE PENCIL!!! just for anyone who didn't get it, it took me a couple of tries to get it. Cuz im stupid, which is probably noticeable due to all mistakes i made above and dont feel like correcting.

[Rafael agueda]

bro 1º thing i didnt write this shit i dont know what is happening my youtube channel is probabily hacked