a young star and its planetary companionET, a telescope turbo-charger has found its first planet outside the solar system. Astronomers have described it as if it is a suitcase in space tracking possible faraway Earths. To find a world like ours that orbits a different star, these two small, relatively cheap instruments are part of a new wave of tools and techniques joining the accelerating race. Over the last decade, scientists have detected more than 160 so-called extrasolar planets.



Canada’s MOST satellite, the suitcase in space trained its instruments on a star. It is known to have a monster planet in its orbit. And it is watched for minute changes in the light emitted by the star, Jaymie Matthews of the University of British Columbia told reporters. The light dimmed a bit as the big planet went around a star called HD 209458. Other smaller planets were also circling the star, but none were detected. This was indicated by MOST that looked for subtle gravitational tugs.



Via: CNN