Astronomers discovered a planetary system that looks almost identical to our solar system. This may mean our solar system is not so unique in the universe.
Researchers at Ohio State University who called the planetary system OGLE-2006-BLG-109L claim that the newly discovered system has two planets orbiting a star that is around a half the size of the sun. One of the planets has a two-thirds of the mass of a major planet Jupiter, while the other is 90 percent of the mass of Saturn planet. Both planets are orbiting a star half the way the Saturn and Jupiter orbit the Sun.
Astronomers used the technique called microlensing, based on the principles of Einsteinian gravity. According to their calculations, if in the continuous movement of the stars, two stars become aligned with the Earth, the gravity of the nearest star is shifted, which in its turn contributes to the brightness of the distant star for some period. In case the position is specially ideal, a big planet attending the nearer star will take part, making distant star more prominent.
Scientists manged to discover as much as six stars, including the new ones. During the Scorpius event, they found several planets and this gives a hope for future discoveries.
Dr Scott Gaudi, a leading researcher explained that new planetary system is like a scale model of our solar system and other planets that are "suitable for life" well co-exist unnoticed. The study is published in the journal Science.
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