By looking at gradual changes in the orbits of a few of the known planets, Iorio calculated that a planet twice as massive as Earth must be at least 500
astronomical units from the sun, according to research in the Oct.
It will approach the planet from a distance of 0.12853
astronomical units or about 12 million miles away.
During its approach, the asteroid will be about 0.04850
astronomical units or about 4.5 million miles away.
"At hundreds of
astronomical units from the star, the density of material in the disk is so low that any small seed of planet would not be able to grow [large] enough before the disk vanishes in a few million years," Lafreniere says.
The asteroid will approach the planet from a distance of 0.01511
astronomical units or about 1.4 million miles away.
They found that the dust is probably confined to a disk with a radius no larger than 6.1
astronomical units (AU)--slightly greater than Jupiter's distance from the sun (SN: 6/16/01, p.
During its approach, the asteroid will be about 0.01457
astronomical units or roughly 1.3 million miles from the planet's center.
Previous observations found that the disk extended from roughly 100 to 310
astronomical units. Astronomers had also found evidence of a halo of small dust grains.
During its approach, the asteroid will be about 0.01411
astronomical units or roughly 1.3 million miles from the planet's center.
These dust bands reside at 6.4, 16, and 30
astronomical units (AU) from the star.
During this time, it flew past the planet from a distance of 0.05961
astronomical units or roughly 5.5 million miles away.
Observations with the Gemini Planet Imager confirm that the giant body that orbits a distant 650
astronomical units from the star HD 106906--more than 10 times Pluto's farthest point from the Sun--was probably flung there from closer in.
