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The glow of extrasolar planets detected

The glow of two planets outside our solar system have been spotted.

The two planets were detected in infrared light. Both are roughly Jupiter-sized and hot, orbiting very close to their stars. Each completes a "year" in less than four days.

The new technique, using NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, allows astronomers to probe the temperatures, atmospheres and emissions of planets.

One planet named TrES-1 and its star are about 500 light-years from Earth. The other planet, named HD 209458b, is slightly more massive than Jupiter and is about 150 light-years from Earth.

There are currently about 140 known worlds beyond our solar system. The first true photographs of extrasolar planets around normal stars are not expected for a few years, until NASA flies a new telescope devoted to the task.

posted by: kyawoo at 10:52 | link | comments |
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