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Astronomers have discovered a new planet that has a highly inconsistent orbit time around its Sun.
The low-mass, low-density planet, known only as PH3c, which is 2,300 light years away from the Earth, has an atmosphere loaded with hydrogen and helium.
The planet nearly escaped detection as PH3c does not have a consistent orbit time around its Sun due to the gravitational influence of other planets on its system.
“On the Earth, these effects are very small, only on the scale of one second or so,” said Joseph Schmitt, a graduate student at Yale University.
“PH3c’s orbital period changed by 10.5 hours in just 10 orbits,” explained Schmitt.
This inconsistency kept the planet out of reach for automated computer algorithms that search stellar light curves and identify regular dips caused by objects passing in front of stars, he said.
The researchers discovered the new planet with…
Follow us on Google+
Astronomers have discovered a new planet that has a highly inconsistent orbit time around its Sun.
The low-mass, low-density planet, known only as PH3c, which is 2,300 light years away from the Earth, has an atmosphere loaded with hydrogen and helium.
The planet nearly escaped detection as PH3c does not have a consistent orbit time around its Sun due to the gravitational influence of other planets on its system.
“On the Earth, these effects are very small, only on the scale of one second or so,” said Joseph Schmitt, a graduate student at Yale University.
“PH3c’s orbital period changed by 10.5 hours in just 10 orbits,” explained Schmitt.
This inconsistency kept the planet out of reach for automated computer algorithms that search stellar light curves and identify regular dips caused by objects passing in front of stars, he said.
The researchers discovered the new planet with…
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