Epsilon Eridani has two asteroid belts
Posted: 27.10.2008, 18:07
CfA Press Release: Solar System's Young Twin Has Two Asteroid Belts
The innermost asteroid belt's location contradicts the radial velocity+astrometry orbit determined for Epsilon Eridani b, which suggests the planet has a high eccentricity. If this were the case it would go crashing through the 3 AU belt, which does not seem a likely configuration. Perhaps the influence of stellar activity on the RV measurements caused problems?
Possible second and third planets associated with the 20 AU belt and the inner edge of the Kuiper belt at 35 AU (this latter one would probably correspond to the postulated planet Eps Eri c).
The innermost asteroid belt's location contradicts the radial velocity+astrometry orbit determined for Epsilon Eridani b, which suggests the planet has a high eccentricity. If this were the case it would go crashing through the 3 AU belt, which does not seem a likely configuration. Perhaps the influence of stellar activity on the RV measurements caused problems?
Possible second and third planets associated with the 20 AU belt and the inner edge of the Kuiper belt at 35 AU (this latter one would probably correspond to the postulated planet Eps Eri c).