Spitzer Detects a Possible Alien Asteroid Belt.

TERRIER · Post #1by **TERRIER** » 21.04.2005, 17:17

I received an interesting e-mail from NASA news yesterday. Here's a link to the story on the main Spitzer website;

http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/Media/re ... ease.shtml

Maybe there is some potential here for a future Celestia add-on ?

symaski62 · Post #2by **symaski62** » 21.04.2005, 17:47

Object Name: HD 69830
Object Type: K0V Star (about 2 billion years old)
Position (J2000): RA: 8h18m23.9s Dec: -12d37m55.8s
Distance: 41 light-years or 12.6 pc
Constellation: Puppis

cel://Follow/HIP%2040693/2005-04-21T17: ... 119&lm=192

:wink:

eburacum45 · Post #3by **eburacum45** » 24.04.2005, 09:44

I expect this system has a gas giant of some sort shepherding the asteroid belt; this giant could be at around 1 AU distant from the star.

The asteroid belt is about 0.6 AU from the star; this is also that star's habitable zone, so a habitable planet is extremely unlikely.

Beowulf01 · Post #4by **Beowulf01** » 24.04.2005, 17:24

Well, there could be a Earth-type orbiting the Gas giant..

Dollan · Post #5by **Dollan** » 24.04.2005, 17:50

That's still 0.4 AU beyond the HZ, though. Perhaps tidal flexing could aid in maintaining something of a biosphere, bit I wouldn't call it Earthlike.