description HR 8799 Overview
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HR 8799 ranks #27 of 217 in the Star ranking, behind Capella, ahead of Regulus.
First directly imaged multi-planet system, high exoplanet-imaging acclaim and continuing scientific value.
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How many confirmed planets orbit HR 8799?
Four directly imaged giant planets are known, conventionally labeled HR 8799 b, c, d, and e. The first three were announced in 2008, and the innermost planet e was reported later.
Why was the 2008 image of HR 8799 historically important?
It revealed the first directly imaged multi-planet system around another main-sequence star. Rather than detecting indirect stellar motion, astronomers separated the planets' own light from the glare of HR 8799.
What makes direct imaging of the HR 8799 planets possible?
The system is young, so its giant planets still radiate substantial heat in infrared wavelengths. Their wide orbits also place them farther from the star's bright image than close-in planets would appear.
Does HR 8799 contain anything besides its four giant planets?
The system also contains debris disks, including belts of dusty material analogous in broad terms to the Solar System's asteroid and Kuiper belts. Its combination of planets and debris makes it an important laboratory for studying young planetary systems.
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