First three planets

Geoff W. Marcy; R. Paul Butler

doi:10.1117/12.243440

24 June 1996 First three planets

Geoff W. Marcy, R. Paul Butler

Proceedings Volume 2704, The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in the Optical Spectrum II; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.243440
Event: Photonics West '96, 1996, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

The first three extrasolar planets orbiting Solar-like stars have recently been discovered. All three were inferred from a periodicity in the optical Doppler measurements of their host stars, indicating a reflex motion in response to the gravitational force exerted by the planets. From such measurements and standard Newtonian physics, one may infer the orbital period and value of M_PL sin i of 0.46, 2.5 and 6.5 M_JUP, and orbital periods of 4.2, 117 and 1100 days, respectively. The most massive planet (around 70 Vir) has an eccentricity, e equals 0.38, larger than any in our Solar System, and one (around 51 Peg) has an orbital radius of 0.05 AU which is smaller than any in our Solar System. A general theory for the formation of planets must include these new characteristics.

Citation Download Citation

Geoff W. Marcy and R. Paul Butler "First three planets", Proc. SPIE 2704, The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in the Optical Spectrum II, (24 June 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.243440

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