Image credit:
Mouillet, D., Larwood, J.D., Papaloizou, J.C.B.,
Lagrange A.M., 1997, A planet on an inclined orbit as an explanation of the
warp in the beta Pictoris disc, MNRAS, vol. 292, pg. 896-904.
HD 39060 HR 2020
GJ 219.0 HIP 27321
RA (2000) = 05 47 17.0877
Dec (2000) = -51 03 59.451
SpT = A5V V =
3.86 mag d = 19.3 pc
Proper motion (mas/yr) = +4.65
+81.96
This image of beta Pic shows the dust disk in
scattered light. Even though this is a ground-based
image, the resolution achieved is similar to
that of the Hubble Space Telescope. European
astronomers used an adaptive optics system in
Chile called ADONIS to obtain this image.
The main observational result is confirmation
of the HST discovery that the disk midplane is
warped at approximately 50 AU from the star.
The cause of the warp is supported by dynamical
simulations performed by John Larwood and John
Papaloizou at Queen Mary and Westfield
College in London. They find that the observed
warp could result from a planet which does
not orbit in exactly the same plane as the rest
of the disk material.
Copyright, please do not reproduce without permission from the authors.