This artist's concept illustrates Kepler-47, the first transiting circumbinary system. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle
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NASA says it has discovered two planets orbiting two suns, similar to Luke Skywalker's fictional home world of Tatooine in Star Wars.
It could help in the search for alien life.
The solar system is 4,900 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus.
Astronomers detected two planets in the Kepler-47 system, a pair of orbiting stars that eclipse each other every 7.5 days. Scientists say that one star is similar to the sun in size and the other is about one-third the size of the sun and less than 1 percent as bright.
The inner planet, Kepler-47b, orbits the pair of stars in less than 50 days. While it cannot be directly viewed, it is thought to be a sweltering world, where the destruction of methane in its super-heated atmosphere might lead to a thick haze that could blanket the planet.
The outer planet orbits its host pair every 303 days, placing it in the so-called "habitable zone," the region in a planetary system where liquid water might exist on the surface of a planet. It is not believed to be hospitable for life.
William Borucki, Kepler mission principal investigator says, "In our search for habitable planets, we have found more opportunities for life to exist."
To search for transiting planets, the research team used data from the Kepler space telescope, which measures dips in the brightness of more than 150,000 stars.
"The presence of a full-fledged circumbinary planetary system orbiting Kepler-47 is an amazing discovery," said Greg Laughlin, professor of Astrophysics and Planetary Science at the University of California in Santa Cruz.
The scientists published their findings online Aug. 28 in the journal Science.
The discovery shows that planetary systems can survive even in the chaotic environment around binary stars. Researchers now want to look for smaller alien planets around binary stars.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 3:50 PM EDT2013-05-21 19:50:15 GMT
A massive tornado devastated parts of Oklahoma on Monday. It destroyed entire neighborhoods, killing dozens of people. If you would like to help those in need, you can donate to relief organizations.
A massive tornado devastated parts of Oklahoma on Monday. It destroyed entire neighborhoods, killing dozens of people. If you would like to help those in need, you can donate to relief organizations.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:27 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:27:36 GMT
(AP Photo Sue Ogrocki)
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of an Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for survivors of a massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school.
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of an Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for survivors of a massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least nine children, and those numbers were expected to climb.
Monday, May 20 2013 12:19 PM EDT2013-05-20 16:19:47 GMT
The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a new case on the intersection of religion and government in a dispute over prayers used to open public meetings.
The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a new case on the intersection of religion and government in a dispute over prayers used to open public meetings.
Sunday, May 19 2013 6:53 PM EDT2013-05-19 22:53:31 GMT
Some lucky person walked into a Publix supermarket in suburban Florida over the past few days and bought a ticket now worth an estimated $590.5 million — the highest Powerball jackpot in history.
Some lucky person walked into a Publix supermarket in suburban Florida over the past few days and bought a ticket now worth an estimated $590.5 million — the highest Powerball jackpot in history.
Saturday, May 18 2013 6:00 PM EDT2013-05-18 22:00:01 GMT
Witnesses in southwestern Virginia said a car drove into a crowd at a parade Saturday and hurt several people, but the nature of their injuries wasn't immediately known.
Witnesses in southwestern Virginia said a car drove into a crowd at a parade Saturday and hurt several people, but the nature of their injuries wasn't immediately known.
Lawmakers are ready to question the ousted head of the Internal Revenue Service as Congress holds its first hearing on the tougher scrutiny the IRS gave tea party and other conservative groups that applied for...
Senior Treasury officials were made aware in June 2012 that investigators were looking into complaints from tea party groups that they were being harassed by the Internal Revenue Service, a Treasury inspector general said...
Friday, May 17 2013 4:38 PM EDT2013-05-17 20:38:41 GMT
DOD photo
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Friday ordered the military to recertify all 25,000 people involved in programs designed to prevent and respond to sexual assault.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Friday ordered the military to recertify all 25,000 people involved in programs designed to prevent and respond to sexual assault.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:33 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:33:52 GMT
For 35 years, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has been bringing its brand of contemporary dance to audiences around the world. One of the company's frequent stops is the Joyce Theater in Chelsea where it
For 35 years, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has been bringing its brand of contemporary dance to audiences around the world. One of the company's frequent stops is the Joyce Theater in Chelsea where it
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:25 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:25:20 GMT
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and St. Regis Mohawk tribal leaders have signed an agreement to ensure the Mohawks keep their exclusive casino territory in northern New York while paying the state $30 million in gambling
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and St. Regis Mohawk tribal leaders have signed an agreement to ensure the Mohawks keep their exclusive casino territory in northern New York while paying the state $30 million in gambling
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:21 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:21:42 GMT
Revel is bankrupt no more. The struggling Atlantic City casino formally emerged from bankruptcy court on Tuesday, just 13 months after it opened with sky-high hopes.
Revel is bankrupt no more. The struggling Atlantic City casino formally emerged from bankruptcy court on Tuesday, just 13 months after it opened with sky-high hopes.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:15 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:15:24 GMT
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers. Edwin Vargas was arrested Tuesday outside his home in Bronxville.
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:33 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:33:20 GMT
A New Jersey priest who resigned after admitting he worked unsupervised with kids despite a legal agreement that barred him from doing so is headed to court.
A New Jersey priest who resigned after admitting he worked unsupervised with kids despite a legal agreement that barred him from doing so is headed to court.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:23 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:23:53 GMT
The New York jury on which Caroline Kennedy served has acquitted a man of dealing crack cocaine. Kennedy was juror No. 7 at the trial of Harlem resident Nelson Chatman.
The New York jury on which Caroline Kennedy served has acquitted a man of dealing crack cocaine. Kennedy was juror No. 7 at the trial of Harlem resident Nelson Chatman.
This artist's concept illustrates Kepler-47, the first transiting circumbinary system. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle
