Planet from another galaxy discovered
Galactic cannibalism brings an exoplanet
of extragalactic origin within
astronomers' reach.
By ESO, Garching,
Germany —
Published: November 19, 2010
First planet of extragalactic origin
(artist’s impression).
Photo by ESO
An exoplanet orbiting a star
that entered our Milky Way from
another galaxy has been detected
by a European team of
astronomers using the MPG/ESO
2.2-meter telescope at the
European Southern Observatory’s
(ESO) La Silla Observatory in
Chile. The Jupiter-like planet
is particularly unusual, as it
is orbiting a star nearing the
end of its life and could be
about to be engulfed by it,
giving tantalizing clues about
the fate of our own planetary
system in the distant future.
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