Giant planet HR 5183b would look 15 times brighter than Venus | | Earlier this year, astronomers discovered a huge planet in a highly eccentric orbit orbiting the star HR 5183, located 103 light-years away. The presence of such a planet was thought to preclude stable orbits for Earth-like planets in the same system. A new study shows – on the contrary – that Earth-like worlds can exist in this system. If one does, and if it’s inhabited, its citizens will witness a spectacular event every 75 years, whenever the giant planet HR 5183b is closest to its star. At such times, the giant planet would appear unlike anything we’ve ever seen, 15 times brighter in the sky than Venus! Read more. | | |
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Don't miss ... Transit of Mercury on November 11 | | Our solar system's innermost planet, Mercury, will pass directly in front of the sun on Monday, November 11. It'll be visible through telescopes with solar filters as a small black dot crossing the sun’s face. The last transit of Mercury was in 2016. The next one won’t be until 2032. This post describes who will see it, how to watch in the sky or online, equipment needed, transit times. Read more. | | |