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A Planet That Orbits Its Star the Wrong Way
Smivs writes "BBC News is reporting that astronomers have discovered the first planet that orbits in the opposite direction to the spin of its star. Planets form out of the same swirling gas cloud that creates a star, so they are expected to orbit in the same direction that the star rotates. The new planet is thought to have been flung into its 'retrograde' orbit by a close encounter with either another planet or with a passing star. The work has been submitted to the Astrophysical Journal for publication. Co-author Coel Hellier, from Keele University in Staffordshire, UK, said planets with retrograde orbits were thought to be rare. 'With everything [in the star system] swirling around the same way and the star spinning the same way, you have to do quite a lot to it to make it go in the opposite direction.' Professor Hellier said a near-collision was probably responsible for this planet's unusual orbit. 'If you have a near-collision, then you'll have a large gravitational slingshot from that interaction,' he explained. 'This is the likeliest explanation. But it might be possible you can do it by gradually perturbing the orbit through the influence of a second planet. So far, we haven't found any evidence of a second planet there.'"
They don't blame the planet, they blame a planet or a big body that passed its orbit.
The star is not a likely cause for its abnormal rotation, although that would make it far more interesting.
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They're already working on that; I read something recently about a probe that they're testing on Earth right now (it's in space, looking at Earth as a control).
I think you mean the LCROSS Spacecraft
Well, in our solar system at least one planet is spinning the other way around: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_venus_spin_the_other_way It's not quite the same like orbiting into the opposite direction, but the Venus apparently received a nudge or two as well in order to spin the other way around. Such accidents appear to happen.
However, we're still unable to detect Earth-size planets in other star systems, as most of the planets we've detected are Jupiter-sized or more, but they are detecting progressively smaller planets.
You're a bit behind on that. Planets that are well within one order of magnitude of the size of Earth have been discovered. This one may be less than twice the size of Earth.
Not as apples to oranges as you think. Astronomical models are actually what inspired the model of the atom and some of the basic quantum theories.
It's rogue dammit, ROGUE!
Um, except for Venus, Uranus and Pluto anyway. If you count Pluto as a planet.
In a 2 dimensional universe, yes. In this one? No. It implies that the plane of the orbit rotates through 180 degrees much like (here it comes everyone) a car tyre when you do a U-turn. It keeps rotating but eventually ends up going the other way.
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A similar explanation is often used to describe the fact that Uranus rotates clockwise...
Er, Venus I mean. Uranus is slightly stranger...
"You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocketship underpants don't help" -- Calvin
That would describe planetary rotation (sun rising and falling), not revolution (years passing).
In our own solar system, there are a number of moons that orbit their planets retrograde. Neptune's moon Triton comes to mind, though I'm fairly certain there's a handful at Jupiter, and maybe some at Saturn. In Triton's case some astronomers have suggested it was a Kuiper body that wandered too close to Neptune and got caught. Perhaps this planet had the same thing happen.
Nope. It would just take one swift hit normal to the plane of the ecliptic to cause the angle of inclination to steadily change until it was revolving backward. However, the inclination may still be changing for all I know.
Nope. Each swift hit (delta-momentum) results in a single orbit change. A hit normal to the ecliptic is the most efficient in terms of angle-of-inclination change, but it does not cause a continuing inclination change.
why do you slashfucks keep using this order of magnitude shit even when it doesn't apply? do you really think it makes you look smart? orders of magnitude are used in a very specific fashion that even a 2nd grader can understand but you guys keep throwing it out there like it's a generalization. it's fucking not.
What's wrong with what he said? He said planets within an order of magnitude have been found. That means planets up to ten times as massive as the earth or as small as on tenth of the earth. He then points to an example where the planet is estimated to be half the size of earth.
Maybe you should brush up on simple 2nd grade mathematics principles before taking a pitchfork out and lighting that flaming brand?
As for a generalization, it can very well be one. It compares like objects within a scale that doesn't require any other measurements. You can say that one object is 2 magnitudes bigger than another if it is 100 times the size. You don't need to measure either object in any units.
So either get used to us "slashfucks" using scientifically agreed to and mathematically correct statements even if you don't understand them, or well, feel free to go find a site more suited to your level. Perhaps something with lolcatz or photos and a rating system?
Moved to http://soylentnews.org/. You are invited to join us too!
In less than one day! http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17613-second-backwards-planet-found-a-day-after-the-first.html
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but wouldn't this type of retrograde orbit be possible if the planet had gone "rouge" from it's original system and was then captured in the gravity well of its current parent star?
While possible the idea is less likely then a close encounter with another planet in the solar system. The nearest solar system to ours is about 4 light years away, in between is a whole lot of nothing and a bit of gas. For the solar system to capture a rogue planet it would have to pass very closely and be travelling fairly slowly.
There is a fair amount of evidence for a very turbulent beginning to our solar system.
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