Thread: Interesting extrasolar planet discoveries
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Old 09-August-2007, 03:32 AM
t@nn t@nn is offline
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Originally Posted by William View Post
The following is a link to an article that discuss 51Pegus’ close orbiting planet. The planet in question is estimated to be roughly ½ the size of Jupiter, with an orbit that is approximately one sixth the distance from Mercury to the sun. (See the scaled drawing that is included in the article.)

http://zebu.uoregon.edu/51peg.html

The question I have is: What mechanism allows a gaseous planet to form in this close orbit?
Most scientists believe that the gas giants form much further out (beyond the "snow line") and then spiral in.
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