Sign up for Southeast Missourian email newsletters:
Astronomers see planet outside solar system
Sunday, May 26, 2002
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii -- Astronomers at the University of Hawaii have photographed a planet outside our solar system, but it may be two years before they know if it is a large, young planet or an old, brown dwarf.
University astronomer Eduardo Martin and Victor Bejar first saw either a planet or a "failed star" on the Keck I telescope atop Mauna Kea in 1998.
More studies are needed to decide whether the object is a planet, the men saiid.