The "super-Jupiter" Kappa Andromedae b, shown here in an artist's rendering, circles its star at nearly twice the distance that Neptune orbits the sun. (NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/S. Wiessinger)
An Interstate 5 bridge over a river collapsed north of Seattle,…
Dan Sligh and his wife were in their pickup truck on Interstate…
A truck carrying an oversize load struck a bridge on the major …
Updated: Tuesday, 20 Nov 2012, 7:32 AM CST
Published : Tuesday, 20 Nov 2012, 7:32 AM CST
(CNN) - It's a massive discovery that's out of this world.
NASA scientists say they've found what could be a huge planet outside of our solar system. They're calling it a "super-Jupiter."
They say it orbits a star 170 light years away, and is about 13 times the size of Jupiter.
NASA says there's also the possibility the "super-Jupiter" could actually be a brown dwarf star.
Brown dwarf stars are able to generate energy by fusion, while massive planets are only able to slowly radiate the heat leftover from their own formation.
Opinions that are derogatory, attack other users or are offensive in nature may be removed. KXAN is not responsible for the content posted in this comment section. We reserve the right to remove any offensive or off-topic remark or thread. To mark a comment for review by a moderator, click "Report Abuse."
Email This
Print This
View Story on a Single Page