Disc around Beta Pictoris

This image represents Beta Pictoris. The disc around Beta Pictoris is probably connected with a planetary system. In particular, various independent observations have led to the conclusion that comets are present around this star, and variability of its intensity has been tentatively attributed to the occultation (partial eclipse) by an orbiting planet. The image was obtained by combining coronography (in which the light from the star is greatly weakened by covering its image with a small disk at the focus of the telescope) with the technique of high-angular resolution by means of adaptive optics which nearly eliminate the adverse effect of the turbulence in the terrestrial atmosphere. This results in a very sharp image with a high spatial resolution (0.12 arcsec) and a high dynamical range (10 5) which allows to follow the disk to a very small distance from the star, in this case only 24 AU (3.6 10 9 km), i.e. a distance where planets could be present. In the Solar System, this corresponds to a distance from the Sun to about halfway between Uranus and Neptune.

Oikeudet:

ESO

Kuvasta

Tunnistus:eso9714a
Tyyppi:Havainto
Julkaisupäivä:11. kesäkuuta 1997
Vastaavat julkaisut:eso9714
Koko:658 x 655 px

Kohteesta

Nimi:Beta Pictoris, Bet Pic
Tyyppi:Milky Way : Planet
Milky Way : Star : Circumstellar Material : Planetary System
Etäisyys:70 valovuotta
Kategoria:Exoplanets
Stars

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Värit ja suotimet

KaistaAallonpituusTeleskooppi
Infrapuna
J
1.25 μmESO 3.6-metre telescope
ADONIS