Mysteries Of 55 Cancri Solved
Friday, May 9, 2014 - 01:31
in Astronomy & Space
One of the most fascinating nearby planetary systems, 55 Cancri, is now less mysterious. Hopefully. The authors say theirs is the first viable model for the planetary system of 55 Cancri, one the first stars discovered to have planets.Numerous studies since 2002 had failed to determine a plausible model for the masses and orbits of two giant planets located closer to 55 Cancri than Mercury is to our Sun. Astronomers had struggled to understand how these massive planets orbiting so close to their star could avoid a catastrophe such as one planet being flung into the star, or the two planets colliding with each other. read more