Astronomers: Alien planet from outside Milky Way found
November 19th, 2010 - 9:34 pm ICT by Aishwarya BhattNew York, Nov 19 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Astronomers says they have discovered the first planet to originate from another galaxy. The scientists say the planet which is the size of Jupiter was drawn into the Milky Way. Scientists estimate that the migration happened some 6 to 9 billion years ago.
The current revelation challenges scientific understanding of how planets are formed and how they survive. The planet revolves around a star that was drawn to the Milky Way with the planet. Scientists explained that the planet was drawn to the Milky Way mainly due to gravity in what is termed as “galactic cannibalism’.
This is the first time that a planet that was formed in another galaxy has been found in the Milky Way. However scientists have discovered several planets over the past 15 years. The planet has been named HIP 13044 b with its parent star given the name HIP 13044. The star lies just 2,000 light years from Earth.
Scientists managed to spot the planet from La Silla, Chile with the European Southern Observatory’s 2.2m telescope. The scientists were led by Dr Johnny Setiawan. About the discovery of the planet, Dr. Setiawan said that, “As far as I know this is the first time a planet like this has been discovered. It came to our galaxy about 6 to 9 billion years ago, so it’s like a visitor”.
- Scientists Discover New Planet In Space - Nov 19, 2010
- Collision of galaxies 'formed Andromeda' - Nov 26, 2010
- 50bn planets in Milky Way, estimates first cosmic census - Feb 21, 2011
- Astronomers discover new planet in Milky Way - Mar 19, 2010
- Glowing bright pink spiral galaxy closer than previously thought - Mar 06, 2011
- Astronomers discover star that's almost as old as the universe itself - Mar 04, 2010
- Milky Way's ancient stars are remnants of other smaller galaxies - Jun 30, 2010
- Stars forming 'much more rapidly than previously believed' - Dec 17, 2010
- NASA launches 2.7 bn-km voyage to Jupiter - Aug 06, 2011
- Billions of life bearing planets float in the milky way - May 14, 2012
- In a galaxy far away, Indian-origin scientist finds her calling - Feb 14, 2011
- Kepler Mission discovers 700 new planets - Jul 26, 2010
- Scientists discover hottest ever planet - Jan 28, 2011
- Thousands of new worlds waiting to be identified, say scientists - Mar 03, 2010
- Missing primitive stars outside Milky Way uncovered - Feb 18, 2010
Tags: alien planet, discovery, earth scientists, european southern observatory, galactic cannibalism, galaxy, gravity, la silla chile, light years, migration, milky way, parent star, planets, revelation, setiawan, size of jupiter