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> Planetary System Around HD 69830

Planetary System Around HD 69830

author: ESO/Novapix

reference: a-exo99-00014

Image Size 300 DPI: 25 * 19 cm

Using the ultra-precise HARPS spectrograph on ESO's 3.6-m telescope at La Silla (Chile), a team of European astronomers have discovered that a nearby star is host to three Neptune-mass planets. The innermost planet is most probably rocky, while the outermost is the first known Neptune-mass planet to reside in the habitable zone. This unique system is likely further enriched by an asteroid belt. This view portaits a point of view inside the asteroid belt, which is assumed here to lie between the two outermost planets.

Keywords for this photo:

2006 - 3.6M - ASTEROID - ASTEROID BELT - ASTRONOMY - EXOPLANET - EXTRASOLAR PLANET - HD 69830 - HD 69830 D - ILLUSTRATION - LA SILLA - PLANET - PUPPIS - STAR -