New York: Astronomers have potentially discovered the first known moon beyond our solar system, orbiting a giant planet around a star about 4,000 light-years away.
Researchers from Columbia University in the US analysed the dips in light from exoplanets passing in front of their stars in data from the Kepler space telescope.
A second, smaller dip that appears ahead of or behind the planet could reveal a moon, they said.
Researchers David Kipping and Alex Teachey of Columbia University have now found the first evidence for an exomoon candidate named Kepler 1625b i.
They analysed 284 planets that seemed like good candidates for hosting detectable moons, 'New Scientist' reported.
"Out of those, this object popped out," Kipping said.
Researchers said if the object exists, it orbits a planet slightly larger than Jupiter around a star about 4,000 light-years away.
Since the potential moon is probably about the size of Neptune, the team nicknamed it 'Neptmoon'.
Researchers plan to check if the moon is really there by using the Hubble Space Telescope to watch for another transit on October 29.
Researchers from Columbia University in the US analysed the dips in light from exoplanets passing in front of their stars in data from the Kepler space telescope.
A second, smaller dip that appears ahead of or behind the planet could reveal a moon, they said.
They analysed 284 planets that seemed like good candidates for hosting detectable moons, 'New Scientist' reported.
Advertisement
Researchers said if the object exists, it orbits a planet slightly larger than Jupiter around a star about 4,000 light-years away.
Advertisement
Researchers plan to check if the moon is really there by using the Hubble Space Telescope to watch for another transit on October 29.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Asteroid That Triggered Dinosaur Extinction Was a Carbon-Rich C-Type Space Rock, Study Finds TVS iQube Celebration Edition Launched To Celebrate 78th Independence Day NASA's Juno Mission Captures Pic Of Swirling and Chaotic Clouds of Jupiter Life On Earth Originates From One Ancestor, Older Than Previously Believed Cops Probing Conspiracy Angle Into Kolkata Hospital Vandalism: 5 Points Siddaramaiah's Swipe At Governor Amid Calls For Resignation: 10 Points Assam Teacher Shows Porn To Girl Students, Protesters Set School On Fire Woman Killed, Set On Fire By Son In UP Village Over Sale Of Goats: Cops Siddaramaiah's Swipe At Governor Amid Calls For Resignation: 10 Points Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.