eso_eso0515a April 30th, 2005
Credit: ESO
This composite image shows the first planet outside of our solar system (right) found orbiting a brown dwarf, dubbed 2M1207 (centre). The fainter planetary companion is at an angular distance of 778 milliarcsec from 2M1207. The exoplanet orbits at a distance from the brown dwarf that is nearly twice as far as Neptune is from the Sun. Originally designated the Giant Planet Candidate Companion (GPCC) by its discoverers, further observations, particularly its motion in the sky relative to 2M1207, ascertained its true nature. The photo is based on three near-infrared exposures (in the H, K and L'' wavebands) with the NACO adaptive-optics facility at the 8.2-m VLT Yepun telescope at the ESO Paranal Observatory.
Provider: European Southern Observatory
Image Source: https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso0515a/
Curator: European Southern Observatory, Garching bei München, Germany
Image Use Policy: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Detailed color mapping information coming soon...
Providers | Sign In