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Collection:
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NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Collection
NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Collection
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Title:
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Circus Family of Stars (Artist's Concept)
Title
Circus Family of Stars (Artist's Concept)
Title
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Original Caption Released with Image:
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""
Quick Time Movie for PIA03521 Circus Family of Stars
This artist's animation shows the clockwork-like orbits of a triple-star system called HD 188753, which was discovered to harbor a gas giant, or "hot Jupiter," planet. The planet zips around the system's main star (yellow, center) every 3.3 days, while the main star is circled every 25.7 years by a dancing duo of stars (yellow and orange, outer orbit). The star pair is locked in a 156-day orbit.
This eccentric star family is a cramped bunch; the distance between the main star and the outer pair of stars is about the same as that between the Sun and Saturn. Though multiple-star systems like this one are common in the universe, astronomers were surprised to find a planet living in such tight quarters.
One reason for the surprise has to do with theories of hot Jupiter formation. Astronomers believe that these planets begin life at the outer fringes of their stars, in thick dusty disks called protoplanetary disks, before migrating inward. The discovery of a world under three suns throws this theory into question. As seen in this animation, there is not much room at this system's outer edges for a hot Jupiter to grow.
The discovery was made using the Keck I telescope atop Mauna Kea mountain in Hawaii. The triple-star system is located 149 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus.
The sizes and orbital periods in the animation are not shown to scale. The relative motions are shown with respect to the main star.
Original_Caption_Rel eased_with_Image
""
Quick Time Movie for PIA03521 Circus Family of Stars
This artist's animation shows the clockwork-like orbits of a triple-star system called HD 188753, which was discovered to harbor a gas giant, or "hot Jupiter," planet. The planet zips around the system's main star (yellow, center) every 3.3 days, while the main star is circled every 25.7 years by a dancing duo of stars (yellow and orange, outer orbit). The star pair is locked in a 156-day orbit.
This eccentric star family is a cramped bunch; the distance between the main star and the outer pair of stars is about the same as that between the Sun and Saturn. Though multiple-star systems like this one are common in the universe, astronomers were surprised to find a planet living in such tight quarters.
One reason for the surprise has to do with theories of hot Jupiter formation. Astronomers believe that these planets begin life at the outer fringes of their stars, in thick dusty disks called protoplanetary disks, before migrating inward. The discovery of a world under three suns throws this theory into question. As seen in this animation, there is not much room at this system's outer edges for a hot Jupiter to grow.
The discovery was made using the Keck I telescope atop Mauna Kea mountain in Hawaii. The triple-star system is located 149 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus.
The sizes and orbital periods in the animation are not shown to scale. The relative motions are shown with respect to the main star.
Original Caption Released with Image
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note:
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Circus Family of Stars (Artist's Concept) [ http //photojournal.jpl.n asa.gov/animation/PI A03521 ]
Click on graphic to obtain download options
note
Circus Family of Stars (Artist's Concept) [ http //photojournal.jpl.n asa.gov/animation/PI A03521 ]
Click on graphic to obtain download options
note
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Image Credit:
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NASA/JPL-Caltech
Image_Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Image Credit
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Produced By:
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JPL
Produced_By
JPL
Produced By
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Spacecraft:
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Keck Observatory
Spacecraft
Keck Observatory
Spacecraft
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Target Name:
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Cygnus
Target_Name
Cygnus
Target Name
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Instrument:
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Keck I Telescope
Instrument
Keck I Telescope
Instrument
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Product Size:
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3000 samples x 2400 lines
Product_Size
3000 samples x 2400 lines
Product Size
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facet_what:
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Sun
facet_what
Sun
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Jupiter
facet_what
Jupiter
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Saturn
facet_what
Saturn
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Cygnus
facet_what
Cygnus
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Keck Observatory
facet_what
Keck Observatory
facet_what
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facet_where:
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Jupiter
facet_where
Jupiter
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Saturn
facet_where
Saturn
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Hawaii
facet_where
Hawaii
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
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Image #:
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PIA03521
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UID:
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SPD-PHOTJ-PIA03521
UID
SPD-PHOTJ-PIA03521
UID
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orignial url:
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orignial_url
orignial url
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