Astronomers capture first images of another solar system

Scientistslaud discovery as a key step toward imaging other Earth-like planets

(November 13, 2008, Victoria, BC) — The National Research Council Canada Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics (NRC-HIA) and an international team of researchers became the first to capture images of three planets circling a star other than the Earth's Sun.

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I want to congratulate Dr. Marois and the other Canadian scientists for their remarkable and historic discovery," said the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State, Science and Technology. "This achievement adds to our country's long and proud history of scientific success."

The team, led by NRC-HIA astronomer Dr. Christian Marois, used high-powered telescopes to capture these images. They were then able to identify three planets larger than Jupiter orbiting a star known as HR 8799. This star is 130 light years from Earth in the constellation of Pegasus. It is faintly visible to the naked eye.

"We have known for a decade through indirect techniques that the Sun was not the only star to have planets in orbit around it," said Dr. Marois. "We finally have an actual image of an entire solar system. This is a milestone in the search for planetary systems around stars."

A team of Canadian, U.S. and British astronomers used the Gemini North and Keck telescopes on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii to capture infrared images of the planets. The images were confirmed using advanced instrumentation and image-processing technology.

"NRC is proud of its world-class expertise that has lead once again an international team of scientists," said NRC President Dr. Pierre Coulombe. "This important discovery will have a significant impact on astronomy for years to come."

HR 8799 is about 1.5 times the mass of the Sun. It is also much brighter and significantly younger. Astronomers estimate the star is about 60 million years old.

"It's amazing to have a picture showing not one but three planets," said Dr. Bruce Macintosh, a scientist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and a project collaborator. "The discovery of the HR 8799 system is a crucial step on the road to the ultimate imaging of another Earth."

These findings will be published in the November issue of Science, an international weekly science journal.

Canada's National Research Council (NRC) is a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology.

For more information, please visit NRC's Web site at http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca or contact:

Kevin Farris
Manager, Communications
NRC Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics
Tel: (250) 363-6951
Kevin.Farris@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Natalie Hall
Media Relations Officer
National Research Council
Tel: (613) 990-6091
Cell: (613) 853-5611
Natalie.Hall@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca