June 14, 2002
The stars above are ancient, but your chance to be here is exquisitely temporary.
55 Cancri: Familiar Planet Discovered
Birthday · June 14, 2002
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APOD published June 14, 2002. Credit: Lynette Cook. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
Is our Solar System unique? The discovery of a Jupiter-like planet in a Jupiter-like orbit around nearby Sun-like star 55 Cancri, announced yesterday, gives a new indication that planetary systems similar to our Solar System likely exist elsewhere. The planet, discovered by G. Marcy (UC Berkeley) and collaborators, is one of two new planets found around 55 Cancri -- in 1997 a Jupiter-massed planet was found orbiting very close in. The finding involved noting subtle changes in the speed of the star caused by its orbiting planets. The above drawing depicts what this planet might look like, complete with a hypothetical moon. The star 55 Cancri, only 40 light-years distant, is visible with binoculars towards the constellation of Cancer.
Image credit: Lynette Cook