SWEEPS-10
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SWEEPS-10 is, as of June 2007, the planet
candidate with the shortest orbital period
yet found. The planet orbits the star SWEEPS J175902.00−291323.7 located in the Galactic bulge at a distance of approximately 22000 light years from Earth
(based on a distance modulus
of 14.1). It completes an orbit of its star
(designated SWEEPS J175902.00−291323.7) in just 10 hours. Located only 1.2 million kilometers from its star (roughly three times the distance between the Earth and the Moon
), the planet is among the hottest ever detected; its estimated temperature
is approximately 1650 degrees Celsius
. "This star-hugging planet must be at least 1.6 times the mass
of Jupiter
, otherwise the star's gravitational muscle would pull the planet apart," said team leader Kailash Sahu of the Space Telescope Science Institute
in Baltimore, Maryland. Such ultra-short period planets (USPPs) seem to occur only around dwarf stars.
The small star's relatively low temperature allows the planet to exist. "USPPs occur preferentially around normal red dwarf
stars that are smaller and cooler than our Sun," Sahu said.
SWEEPS-10 is, as of June 2007, the planet
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
candidate with the shortest orbital period
Orbital period
The orbital period is the time taken for a given object to make one complete orbit about another object.When mentioned without further qualification in astronomy this refers to the sidereal period of an astronomical object, which is calculated with respect to the stars.There are several kinds of...
yet found. The planet orbits the star SWEEPS J175902.00−291323.7 located in the Galactic bulge at a distance of approximately 22000 light years from Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
(based on a distance modulus
Distance modulus
-Definition:The distance modulus \mu=m-M is the difference between the apparent magnitude m and the absolute magnitude M of an astronomical object...
of 14.1). It completes an orbit of its star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
(designated SWEEPS J175902.00−291323.7) in just 10 hours. Located only 1.2 million kilometers from its star (roughly three times the distance between the Earth and the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
), the planet is among the hottest ever detected; its estimated temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
is approximately 1650 degrees Celsius
Celsius
Celsius is a scale and unit of measurement for temperature. It is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius , who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death...
. "This star-hugging planet must be at least 1.6 times the mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
of Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
, otherwise the star's gravitational muscle would pull the planet apart," said team leader Kailash Sahu of the Space Telescope Science Institute
Space Telescope Science Institute
The Space Telescope Science Institute is the science operations center for the Hubble Space Telescope and for the James Webb Space Telescope...
in Baltimore, Maryland. Such ultra-short period planets (USPPs) seem to occur only around dwarf stars.
The small star's relatively low temperature allows the planet to exist. "USPPs occur preferentially around normal red dwarf
Red dwarf
According to the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, a red dwarf star is a small and relatively cool star, of the main sequence, either late K or M spectral type....
stars that are smaller and cooler than our Sun," Sahu said.
See also
- SWEEPS stands for Sagittarius Window Eclipsing Extrasolar Planet SearchSagittarius Window Eclipsing Extrasolar Planet SearchThe Sagittarius Window Eclipsing Extrasolar Planet Search, or SWEEPS, was a 2006 astronomical survey project using the Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys - Wide Field Channel to monitor 180,000 stars for seven days to detect extrasolar planets via the transit method.-Area...
- SWEEPS-04
- SWEEPS-11SWEEPS-11SWEEPS-11 is an extrasolar planet orbiting the star SWEEPS J175902.67−291153.5 in the constellation Sagittarius approximately 22000 light years away from the Solar System...