Hunting Planets

While the weather is predicted to be less than ideal tonight, let’s take a look at planets. While it’s been a long time since we’ve discovered new planets in our solar system, astronomers have been detecting new planets (called exoplanets) around nearby stars at an increasing rate.

Now astronomers are developing techniques to detect the formation of new planets. Read more here:

Astronomers Witness the Birth of Planets - Sky & Telescope

New observations of PDS 70, a star 370 light-years away in the constellation Centaurus, have confirmed the existence of two newborn giant planets in the system. Astronomers had discovered PDS 70b previously, but data on PDS 70c were more tenuous. (Read about the discovery of PDS 70b and PDS 70c.)

Check back each weekday @ 5:00 pm for more observing guides and science news!

If you'd like to support us, visit patreon.com/StandleyLakeStargazing

Leave comments and questions on our page and feel free to reach us directly at contact@standleylakestargazing.com. As always-

Stay well, and clear skies!