A Remarkable Direct Image Of A Nearby Super-Jupiter

io9 ^ | George Dvorsky

[SunkenCiv]

Typically, exoplanets are observed indirectly using such techniques as the transit method, or by measuring changes in the radial velocity of host stars. In the vast majority of cases, astronomers aren’t able to detect the light from these planets due to their extreme distance from observational equipment. But VHS J1256b—a gas giant located 40 light-years from Earth—is close enough, bright enough, and distant enough from its host star to be seen and distinguished by our telescopes. The direct image of VHS J1256b, along with its spectral signature, was acquired by scientists at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canaries (IAC), the Centre of Astrobiology (CAB), and the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT).

At about 11 times the mass of Jupiter, this massive planet orbits a red dwarf at a distance of 100 AU, which is about 20 times further than Jupiter’s distance from the Sun. Because VHS J1256b is so far from its host star, the astronomers were able to isolate its full spectral range, including ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and infrared.

[Norm Lenhart]

That was good ;)

[Telepathic Intruder]

Just that it’s not really close to being a star with only 11 Jupiter masses. But it is close to being a brown dwarf, which is a sort of transitional category between planet and star.

[Talisker]

Be a hell of a thing if we actually witnessed the ignition/birth of a star.

2010 Odyssey - Jupiter Ignition

[Norm Lenhart]

I meant the actual fusion thing. What I am curious about is the timeframe.

I would assume the core being the highest pressure/temp is the starting point, but considering the sheer mass/size of a star, how fast does the entire ‘star’ become involved in the reaction? is it more a ‘slow burn’ or ‘blinding flash”?

[Norm Lenhart]

I really need to watch that movie.

[TigersEye]

You've filtered out the distortions now let's adjust the focus.

Toldja he didn't come from Earth.

[fwdude]

Due to geometric considerations, 11x the mass (roughly volume) wouldn’t be that much bigger, diameter-wise.

[Secret Agent Man]

Red Dwarf.

“It’s cold outside, no kind of atmosphere, I’m all alone, more or less....”

[Telepathic Intruder]

I'm not exactly sure how it works in brown dwarfs fusing deuterium, which is only a tiny fraction of the total hydrogen, but stars only fuse elements in the core. When that's used up, the star dies. The more massive the star, the shorter the lifespan on the order of around mass to the power of -3.5. This is a lengthy topic, however, but the Wiki page should give you a decent overview:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_evolution

[Norm Lenhart]

I’ll check it out, Thanks!

[SunkenCiv]

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[Telepathic Intruder]

Actually that’s mass^-2.5, but minor point. For example, a star twice the mass of our sun will last 18% as long, or 1.8 billion years. Half the mass, 5.6 times as long.

[Sherman Logan]

Supernovas occur at the end of the life of really massive stars. Not itsy-bitsy ones.

[minnesota_bound]

That looks like my typical image of anything when I take a photo.