Jupiter Twin Spotted in a Solar System That Mimics Our Own

First Posted: Jul 16, 2015 09:25 AM EDT

Astronomers may have discovered a Jupiter-like planet orbiting a sun-like star that could, potentially, signal other systems like our own solar system. The formation of Jupiter-mass planets plays an important role in shaping the architecture of planetary systems, and the existence of this planet may mean that there are planets there like the planets in our own solar system.

So far, exoplanet surveys have been most sensitive to planetary systems that are populated in their inner regions by massive planets down to a few times the mass of Earth. This contrasts with our solar system, where there are small rocky planets in the inner regions and gas giants like Jupiter further out.

The arrangement of our solar system was made possible by the presence of Jupiter and the gravitational influence that this giant exerted on the solar system during its formative years. Finding a Jupiter twin, therefore, is an important step on the road of finding a planetary system that mirrors our own.

Scientists have been targeting sun-like stars in order to find planetary systems similar to our own solar system. Now, researchers have found a planet orbiting a sun-like star with a mass that's very similar to Jupiter. Not only that, but this planet orbits its star, called HIP 11915, at a distance that the exact same as Jupiter's from our sun.

Although many planets similar to Jupiter have been found at a variety of distances from sun-like stars, this newly discovered planet is the most accurate analogue yet found for the sun and Jupiter.

"After two decades of hunting for exoplanets, we are finally beginning to see long-period gas giant planets similar to those in our own solar system thanks to the long-term stability of planet hunting instruments like HARPS," said Megan Bedell, lead author of the new study, in a news release. "This discovery is, in every respect, an exciting sign that other solar systems may be out there waiting to be discovered."

With that said, the researchers need follow-up observations to confirm and constrain the new finding. That said, this new discovery is huge in terms of finding a solar system like our own.

The findings are published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.