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First Image Of Planet-Like Body Orbiting A Star

Posted by timothy on from the won't-be-the-last dept.

deglr6328 writes "The Gemini North Telescope has, for the first time, directly imaged a planet like body orbiting a star. The object is a brown dwarf, 55 to 78 times the mass of planet Jupiter and 14 AU distant from its parent star 15 Sge. It was imaged using adaptive optics(see also here) that correct for the blurring effect of the atmosphere using deformable mirrors. Cool!"

8 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm.... by cporter · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that a Starbuck's I can see on the high-res JPEG?

  2. Planet-like bodies by 6EQUJ5 · · Score: 4, Funny


    I say we name it "Rosie" or "Oprah"....

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    1. Re:Planet-like bodies by halo8 · · Score: 4, Funny

      well it is a brown dwarf.. wouldnt "Gary Coleman" be more apropriate?

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      The More Knowledge you have the Luckier you Get- J.R. Ewing
  3. Fuzzy little 'planet' by Nick+Smith · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are they absolutely sure someone didn't sneeze on the lens?

    Nick

    1. Re:Fuzzy little 'planet' by AnimeFreak · · Score: 3, Funny

      Oh no... that is just the chocolate pudding. I think that dot is a earing or something, possibly a sprinkle from Bob's donut.

  4. Now here's what's funny ... by dmarcov · · Score: 3, Funny

    I had a high school physics teacher that was a bit of a bible thumper (no offense to any thumpers out there) who insisted that we would /never/ find planets (or planet like objects)in other solar systems. It was impossible, because . Something about proof denying faith, and without faith God being nothing ... oh wait -- that was someone else.

    I'd love to talk with him now ...

  5. So... by Simon+Garlick · · Score: 4, Funny

    They're admitting that it's all done with mirrors?

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  6. Be polite - be politically correct! by Hektor_Troy · · Score: 4, Funny

    African Extraterrestrial Vertically Challanged Star

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    We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.