Astronomers discover new planet from another galaxy

Though the planet, dubbed HIP 13044b, is a part of our galaxy, the Milky Way, scientists believe that it originated in another galaxy. The discovery has been reported in the journal ‘Science’.

The discovery gains importance as all the 500 planets found so far were a part of our galaxy unlike HIP 13044b, which is believed to be a part of a smaller galaxy that once orbited the Milky Way.

The galaxy in which this solar system was formed is believed to have fallen victim to cosmic cannibalism.

Astronomers think that the Milky Way collided with this galaxy and usurped it.

“It also demonstrates that planet formation takes place in galaxies of a different class than the Milky Way. These galaxies have a quite different pattern of evolution and star formation history.”--Oskar von der Luhe, astronomer

Study findings
Study leader, Johny Setiawan, said that the new planet was, “likely formed when the star was not yet a part of the Milky Way. It’s travelled with the star all this time.”

The study gives the first proof to astronomers that planets can form outside our galaxy.

Oskar von der Luhe, an astronomer, not involved in the study said, “It also demonstrates that planet formation takes place in galaxies of a different class than the Milky Way. These galaxies have a quite different pattern of evolution and star formation history.”

Discovery to shed light on future of solar system
The discovery is also expected to shed light on the future of our solar system, about 5 to 6 billion years from now.

Astronomers believe that our Sun would expand to a red giant, filling our inner solar system and then shrink over another 2 billion years.

The new star, HIP 13044, seems to have passed through the expansion stage and is now shrinking.

The astronomers involved in this study used the 2.2 meter telescope of the European Southern Observatory in Chile.

Scientists have not photographed the planet directly as it is too far for that but have relied on the small wobbles in a star caused when a planet passes it.

The planet is orbiting HIP 13044, in every 16 days and is at a distance of 11 million miles, less than the orbit of Mercury, planet closest to sun in our solar system.

While other planets orbiting the star would have been engulfed during the expansion stage, the HIP 13044b could have been saved due to its fast speed.

The star is expected to engulf the planet and with it the last remains of the first solar system originated outside our galaxy would also vanish.

The discovery is reported in the journal ‘Science’.