'Zombie' Planet's Rogue Orbit Around Star Shocks Scientists

The unbalanced orbit of a so-called "zombie planet" in a dusty star system has astronomers struggling to explain the exoplanet's behavior.

New observations of the planet Fomalhaut b by the Hubble Space Telescope revealed the oddball orbit, which has wild extremes between its closest and farthest points from the parent star and appears to cross through a vast minefield of dusty debris. 

"We are shocked. This is not what we expected," said study leader Paul Kalas, an astronomer with the University of California at Berkeley and the SETI Institute in Mountain View, Calif., in a statement Tuesday (Jan. 8).

'Zombie planet' gets weirder

Fomalhaut b is a giant alien planet that is nearly three times the mass of Jupiter. It was the first alien planet ever directly imaged in visible light. The planet orbits the dust-shrouded star Fomalhaut and is located about 25 light-years away in the constellation Piscis Austrinus. 

In October, scientists dubbed the world a "zombie planet" because it appeared to rise from the academic grave. After first being discovered in 2008, subsequent studies suggested the planet was nothing more than a huge dust cloud. In 2012, astronomers resurrected Fomalhaut b's planet status when new observations proved there was a planetary object embedded in a free-floating dust cloud. [Gallery: The Strangest Alien Planets]

The latest observations of the odd planetary system revealed that the dusty debris disk surrounding the star Fomalhaut is much wider than previously thought. The debris belt spans a vast region of space between 14 billion and 20 billion miles (22.5 billion to 32.1 billion kilometers) around the star.

Stranger still: The planet Fomalhaut b appears to approach with 4.6 billion miles (7.4 billion km) of its star at the closest point in its orbit, then swing way out to a point about 27 billion miles (43.4 billion km) away at the farthest point. Scientists call the extremes of such a planet’s path a highly eccentric orbit.

Fomalhaut b's path, scientists say, sends the planet crashing through the surrounding debris disk during its 2,000-year orbit around its parent star. The research was unveiled Tuesday at the 221st meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Long Beach, Calif.

A hidden planet around Fomalhaut?

Among the several theories to explain Fomalhaut b's extreme orbit is the possibility that the exoplanet had an encounter with another planet, a yet-to-be discovered neighbor. The cosmic close encounter could have gravitationally ejected Fomalhaut b into its current orbit, scientists said.

"Hot Jupiters get tossed through scattering events, where one planet goes in and one gets thrown out," study co-investigator Mark Clampin, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., said in a statement.  "This could be the planet that gets thrown out."

Hubble telescope images revealed an apparent gap in the dust and ice debris around Fomalhaut, a region that could have been swept clean by the presence of the undetected planet, researchers said.

Another theory suggests that Fomalhaut b could have once had a small dwarf planet as a neighbor, but that the giant planet obliterated the smaller world in a catastrophic collision. Such a crash could explain why the star Fomalhaut has a narrow outer debris disk that is less than 10,000 years old, scientists said.

Does Fomalhaut b have rings?

Another tantalizing theory suggests Fomalhaut b may have Saturn-like rings and be destined for a spectacular crash through the debris disk around the star Fomalhaut in the year 2032. [Photos of Saturn’s Glorious Rings]

A set of rings or a nearby shroud of dust and ice could explain why Fomalhaut b appears so bright in visible light images, but is relatively dim in infrared light, according to Kalas. The rings or dust around the planet would reflect starlight, making the planet bright. A dust cloud could be created impacts on moons around Fomalhaut b, if they exist, researchers said.

In 2032, astronomers expect to solve one riddle that has perplexed scientists since Fomalhaut b's discovery: Is the exoplanet in the plane of the debris disk around its star, or not?

If the planet is on the same plane as the debris disk, than it will be bombarded by dust and ice in 2032 when it crosses through the disk during the outbound leg of its orbit, researchers said. That would make the planet increase its brightness in infrared light, they added. Impacts from the debris could create a celestial light show on the planet similar to that seen on Jupiter when the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 battered the gas giant in 1994.

If Fomalhaut b is not in the same plane as the debris disk, then it should gradually get dimmer as it gets farther and farther from its parent star, researchers said. One way or another, the clues should come out starting in 2032, scientists said.

Hubble telescope officials said astronomers plan to continue to monitor the Fomalhaut star system over the next few years and decades to see how the star system changes over time.

You can follow SPACE.com Managing Editor Tariq Malik on Twitter @tariqjmalik. Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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Father's Day in Space: How Astronaut Dads Cope in Orbit (SPACE.com)

The six men flying on the International Space Station are a dedicated and diverse crew, but they're also devoted dads and this Father's Day finds them stuck in orbit, far from home. Luckily, some modern technology keeps their family just a phone call away.

An Internet and email link, video conferences and an Internet protocol telephone help the space station crew stay in touch with family and friends on Earth during holidays and special occasions as they sail 220 miles (354 km) above Earth. That communications gear will likely get a work out for Father's Day on Sunday, June 19 since, aside from some daily station upkeep, the crew typically has weekends off.

The station's crew  includes three Russian cosmonauts, two Americans and one Japanese spaceflyer. All together, the astronauts left 12 children and at least one grandchild behind when they launched into space in teams of three. Some of those children watched their dads rocket into space on June 7 EDT, when a Russian Soyuz rocket launched the three newest members of the station's six-man crew on their six-month mission. [History's 12 Most Doting Dads]

Father's Day in orbit

One of the men on the Soyuz was veteran NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, who has four children and one grandchild. Fossum's wife, three of their sons, and his brother Terry watched the Soyuz rocket launch from the central Asian spaceport of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

"That was a fantastic launch, the six months up there will pass in no time, and I hope you have fun," Fossum's youngest son Kenny, a teenager, told his father by phone in a June 9 EDT video conference after the Soyuz arrived at the station.

"It will go by fast, I look forward to seeing you," Fossum replied. "I miss you already."

In addition to phone calls or email, astronauts on the space station can also send messages or photos  to family and friends via Twitter using an Internet connection provided by Mission Control. 

NASA astronaut Ron Garan, a father of three sons who has lived on the space station since April, has been regularly sending photos to Earth on Twitter and maintains an active blog from space, called Fragile Oasis, aimed to highlight Earth's most pressing environmental concerns. His latest photo, which he posted on June 12, shows a sunset on Earth seen from space. [Amazing Space Photos by Astronaut Ron Garan]

"That beautiful view never gets old," wrote Garan, 49, who posts under the name Astro_Ron.

Six months in space

Fossum, 53, is currently a flight engineer with the station's Expedition 28 crew. Later in the flight, he'll take command of the station's Expedition 29 mission. Fossum launched into space with two crewmates: Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa (who has two children) and Russian Sergei Volkov, who has one son and is himself the son of noted veteran cosmonaut Alexander Volkov.

Two other cosmonauts round out the station crew. They are: Alexander Samokutyaev, who has a daughter, Anastasia, and the station's current commander Andrey Borisenko, who has a son, Ivan.

Like Garan, Fossom and Furukawa send messages to Earth via Twitter. Fossum posts updates as Astro_aggie (a nod to his Texas alma mater), while Furukawa writes as Astro_Satoshi.

After Fossum and his crewmates arrived at the space station on June 10, his wife Melanie assured him that the entire family is behind him.

"We're very proud of your training, for what you've accomplished, your training and getting to where you are right now," Melanie said. "We're very eager to have you back to share in all that you've been through in this great mission. Go with our blessing and God's protection."

Space station astronauts can train for two years or so for their six-month trips to space. Because the space station was built by five different space agencies (NASA and the agencies of Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan) representing 15 different countries, the training requires long periods away from home and family, astronauts have said.

"You guys have the hard job, standing on the sidelines and watching us take off and do this," Fossum told his wife. "Thank you very much and God bless."

Fossum's eldest son Mitch also watched his father's launch on the Soyuz. The launch, he said, was brilliant.

"You guys had a fantastic launch the other day. It was pretty bright against the dark night sky," Mitch told his father on June 9. "That brightness is still burned into my cornea."

Mitch ended his call to his father by wishing him good luck and a fun trip in space.

"Thanks Mitch, this is one heck of a ride, buddy," Fossum told his son. "Love ya."

You can follow SPACE.com Managing Editor Tariq Malik on Twitter @tariqjmalik. Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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Iran puts satellite into orbit: state TV

TEHRAN | Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:02pm EDT

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran has successfully launched a second domestically built satellite into orbit, Iran's Arabic language al-Alam television reported on Wednesday.

The United States and its allies fear Iran is seeking to build nuclear bombs and are concerned that the long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit can also be used to launch warheads.

"Iran launched a domestically built rocket and the Rasad 1 (satellite) has been put into orbit," al-Alam reported.

In February 2009, Iran launched its first domestically-built satellite, the OMID (Hope) research and telecoms satellite, in what it described as a big step coinciding with the 30th anniversary of its 1979 Islamic revolution.

Iran, which regards its space program as a matter of national pride, says its nuclear program is solely to generate electricity.

The Rasad 1 (Observation) satellite will be used for transmitting images and weather forecasts, TV reported.

"The satellite was launched by a Safir rocket. It was put into orbit 260 km (163 miles) above the Earth," al-Alam reported.

Iran gave no further description of the satellite's orbit. Western experts say Iran rarely gives enough detail for them to determine the extent of its technological advances, while much Iranian technology consists of modifications of equipment supplied by China, North Korea and others.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Peter Graff)

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Russian Soyuz Launches New Space Station Crew Into Orbit (SPACE.com)

This story was updated at 4:38 p.m. EDT.

Three spaceflyers are on their way to the International Space Station, after launching toward the orbiting complex today (June 7) in a Russian-made Soyuz capsule.

NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov and Satoshi Furukawa of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), are set to become the newest space station residents, and will live and work at the orbiting outpost for roughly five-and-a-half months.

Fossum, Volkov and Furukawa blasted off at 4:12 p.m. EDT (2012 GMT) from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio is riding in a Russian-built Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft, which is the second generation of the upgraded digital Soyuz capsule that was modified to fix computer console display glitches that popped up during the design's first flight. [Video: Soyuz Blasts Off to Space Station]

"We feel great, and everything is nominal onboard," Volkov reported shortly after liftoff.

The international crew is scheduled to arrive at the space station on Thursday (June 9) at 5:22 p.m. EDT (2122 GMT) after a two-day orbital journey. The spacecraft will dock at the Russian Rassvet mini research module.

"Congratulations on a successful launch. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart," a Russian flight controller radioed to Volkov, the Soyuz commander.

Rounding out the station crew

Fossum, Volkov and Furukasa will join three others who have been living at the space station since April – NASA astronaut Ron Garan and Russian cosmonauts Alexander Samokutyaev and Andrey Borisenko – to round out the station's Expedition 28 mission. [Amazing Photos by Astronaut Ron Garan]

Garan, Samokutyaev and Borisenko are scheduled to return to Earth in September. At that time, Fossum will assume command of the station from Borisenko to begin the Expedition 29 mission.

During their time at the space station, the new crewmembers will perform a wide variety of research and experiments. For example, Furukawa plans to grow cucumbers in microgravity to study how future space explorers can harvest their own food on longer missions that push further out into the solar system.

The astronauts will also be the subject of medical and life sciences experiments that examine how the human body adapts and changes over the course of long-duration missions in space. The crewmembers will be monitored for bone loss, muscle health, and their aerobic and cardiovascular health will be measured over time.

"Just being there we are an experiment," Fossum said in a preflight interview. "All of those three things, the bone health, muscle health and cardiovascular health, are really important just for long-term health of astronauts and very important to maintain that health as some day we venture beyond low Earth orbit and go to Mars.

Busy time in space

Fossum is making his third spaceflight. A veteran of two previous space shuttle missions, he has already logged more than 26 days in space. Volkov, a second-generation cosmonaut, completed his first stint at the space station in 2008. During that time, he spent 199 days in space and performed two spacewalks. Furukawa, a surgeon, is making his first spaceflight.

Today's Soyuz launch came less than a week after NASA's space shuttle Endeavour landed to end the agency's second-to-last shuttle mission. Endeavour touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 1 at the conclusion of its 16-day visit to the International Space Station. [Photos of Space Shuttle Endeavour's Last Landing]

The Expedition 28 crew will host the final mission of NASA's space shuttle program, the STS-135 flight of Atlantis, which is scheduled to launch July 8. Atlantis' flight will wrap up the agency's 30-year shuttle program, making way for NASA to focus on developing spacecraft to explore beyond low-Earth orbit.

You can follow SPACE.com Staff Writer Denise Chow on Twitter @denisechow. Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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New Space Station Crew to Launch Into Orbit Today (SPACE.com)

Three new crewmembers are set to launch to the International Space Station today (June 7) to begin their months-long mission at the orbiting outpost.

NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov, and Satoshi Furukawa of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), will ride into orbit today aboard a Russian-built Soyuz spacecraft. The trio is slated to launch at 4:12 p.m. EDT (2012 GMT) from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

"The State Commission approved our ship and crew for launch tomorrow night. Looks like we're going to do this!!" Fossum wrote via Twitter on Monday (June 6).

The three crewmates are launching less than a week after the successful completion of NASA's second-to-last space shuttle mission. The shuttle Endeavour landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 1 to end the orbiter's final flight before being retired. [Photos: Shuttle Endeavour's Last Landing]

Fossum, Volkov and Furukawa are set to begin their long-term stints aboard the space station, where they will make up the remainder of the station's Expedition 28 crew. The spaceflyers will join NASA astronaut Ron Garan and Russian cosmonauts Alexander Samokutyaev and Andrey Borisenko, who have been living and working at the space station since early April. [Amazing Photos by Astronaut Ron Garan]

The new crewmembers are scheduled to arrive at the space station on Thursday at 5:22 p.m. EDT (2122 GMT). They will be flying on a Russian-built Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft, the second version of Russia's upgraded digital Soyuz capsule which has also been modified to fix computer console display glitches that popped up during the design's first flight.

Space station science

In September, Garan, Samokutyaev and Borisenko will return to Earth, and Fossum will take command of the station to begin the next Expedition 29 mission.

As part of their stay at the orbiting laboratory, the crewmembers will conduct a variety of experiments in a number of fields, including physical sciences, human life sciences and Earth observation, according to NASA officials.

During Endeavour's STS-134 mission, the visiting shuttle astronauts performed four spacewalks and completed the last major stage of construction for the station's U.S. segment. This will allow NASA and its international partners to focus on the science and research capabilities that the station has to offer, NASA officials have said. [Amazing Spacewalk Photos: Shuttle Endeavour at Space Station]

"Now we’re moving out of that phase as this construction assembly’s complete, and more into the science phase that it was really built to do, so it’s exciting as we’re bringing online all of these, the payloads, the different equipment to begin moving it forward with that research capability," Fossum said in a preflight interview.

Meet the Soyuz crew

Fossum, 53, will be making his third spaceflight, having already logged more than 26 days in space. Fossum was previously a member of NASA's STS-121 and STS-124 missions to the International Space Station, both on the space shuttle Discovery.

Volkov, 38, spent 199 days in space during his first stint at the space station in 2008. He performed two spacewalks and served as commander of the space station's Expedition 17 mission. Volkov is a second-generation cosmonaut and was also the youngest station commander appointed to date.

Furukawa, 47, will be making his first spaceflight today after completing astronaut training in 2006 at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. As a trained surgeon, Furukawa is looking forward to the scientific potential that the space station has to offer. [Video: Venomous Spiders on Space Station]

"Conducting many scientific experiments on board the space station, dedicating the progress of science and making everybody’s life on Earth better than now, that's my first interest," Furukawa said in a preflight interview. "Other than that, I would like to look at the beautiful Earth from some of the windows on board the station, and plus, I would like to take many photographs and share them with all."

In addition to their scientific duties, the Expedition 28 crew will also host the final mission of NASA's space shuttle program, the STS-135 flight of Atlantis, which is scheduled to launch in early July. Atlantis' flight will wrap up the agency's 30-year shuttle program, making way for NASA to focus on developing spacecraft to explore beyond low-Earth orbit.

You can follow SPACE.com Staff Writer Denise Chow on Twitter @denisechow. Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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