Schematic of Fomalhaut system

This diagram shows the orbit of the exoplanet Fomalhaut b as calculated from recent Hubble Space Telescope observations. The planet follows a highly elliptical orbit that carries it across a wide belt of debris encircling the bright star Fomalhaut. The planet swings as close to its star as 7.4 billion kilometres, and the outermost point of its orbit is 43 billion kilometres away from the star. The orbital period is approximately 2000 years.

Credit:

Illustration Credit: NASA, ESA and A. Feild (STScI).
Science Credit: NASA, ESA and P. Kalas (University of California, Berkeley, USA)

About the Image

NASA press release
Id:opo1301e
Type:Artwork
Release date:22 January 2013, 13:44
Size:2400 x 1940 px

About the Object

Name:Fomalhaut b
Type:Milky Way : Star : Circumstellar Material : Planetary System
Category:Exoplanets
Stars

Image Formats

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1.6 MB
r.titleScreensize JPEG
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