Mysterious planet 10 times bigger than Jupiter disproves widely held theory

[Judi Lynn]

Tim Fitzsimons - Yesterday 9:47 AM

Scientists have discovered a giant planet orbiting a massive pair of extremely hot stars, an environment previously thought too inhospitable for a planet to form in.

A research article published Wednesday in the science journal Nature said the discovery of the planet, named “b Centauri (AB)b” or “b Centauri b,” disproves a widely held belief among astronomers.

“Until now, no planets had been spotted around a star more than three times as massive as the Sun,” wrote the European Southern Observatory, which photographed the planet from its Very Large Telescope in the Chilean desert.

The study’s leader, Markus Janson, a professor of astronomy at Stockholm University, said “it completely changes the picture about massive stars as planet hosts.”

The “B-type” dual star, which sits at the center of a solar system in the Centaurus constellation, is extremely massive and hot. It emits large amounts of high-energy ultraviolet and X-ray radiation, which has “a strong impact on the surrounding gas that should work against planet formation,” the European Southern Observatory said.

More:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/mysterious-planet-10-times-bigger-than-jupiter-disproves-widely-held-theory/ar-AARCIqs?li=BBnb7Kz

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. So, would the twin stars be at least 10x bigger than our sun?

10x larger in the universe comparing our physical size does not really surprise me, but there has to be a relation to star/planet sizes to keep orbits coherent....I would think.