Astronomers' hopes raised by glimpse of possible new planet
Bright speck in space near Alpha Centauri A may be evidence of asteroids or dust – or a technical glitch
www.theguardian.com
Astronomers have glimpsed what may be a previously unknown planet circling one of the closest stars to Earth.
Researchers spotted the bright dot near Alpha Centauri A, one of a pair of stars that swing around each other so tightly they appear as one in the southern constellation of Centaurus. The stars form what is called a binary system 4.37 light years away, a mere stone’s throw in cosmic terms.
So tentative is the sighting that scientists are referring to it only as a “planet candidate”, aware that the bright speck in the darkness of space may be evidence of alien asteroids, streaks of dust, or more prosaically, an unforeseen glitch in their equipment.
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