Extrasolar planets-A challenge for Astronomy

Author(s)
Rudolf Dvorak
Abstract

We compare in this short review the dynamical structure of our Solar System with extrasolar planetary systems, where up to now more than 300 planets are known to move. The apparent differences are the large eccentricities of many of the orbits in those systems compared to our own planetary system and that the large gas giants are moving in orbits very close to their host stars. No satisfactory explanation exist up to now which could explain these surprising facts. We also briefly discuss the possibility of the existence of Earth-like planets in these already known systems which could move on stable orbits in the so-called habitable zone.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
Pages
43-52
No. of pages
10
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3046269
Publication date
2008
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
1030 Physics, Astronomy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/b650c908-c703-4d44-9693-626c4811553e