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Showing papers by "Alan P. Boss published in 2011"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the Kepler mission released data for 156,453 stars observed from the beginning of the science observations on 2009 May 2 through September 16, and there are 1235 planetary candidates with transit-like signatures detected in this period.
Abstract: On 2011 February 1 the Kepler mission released data for 156,453 stars observed from the beginning of the science observations on 2009 May 2 through September 16. There are 1235 planetary candidates with transit-like signatures detected in this period. These are associated with 997 host stars. Distributions of the characteristics of the planetary candidates are separated into five class sizes: 68 candidates of approximately Earth-size (R_p < 1.25 R_⊕), 288 super-Earth-size (1.25 R_⊕ ≤ R_p < 2 R_⊕), 662 Neptune-size (2 R_⊕ ≤ R_p < 6 R_⊕), 165 Jupiter-size (6 R_⊕ ≤ R_p < 15 R_⊕), and 19 up to twice the size of Jupiter (15 R_⊕ ≤ R_p < 22 R_⊕). In the temperature range appropriate for the habitable zone, 54 candidates are found with sizes ranging from Earth-size to larger than that of Jupiter. Six are less than twice the size of the Earth. Over 74% of the planetary candidates are smaller than Neptune. The observed number versus size distribution of planetary candidates increases to a peak at two to three times the Earth-size and then declines inversely proportional to the area of the candidate. Our current best estimates of the intrinsic frequencies of planetary candidates, after correcting for geometric and sensitivity biases, are 5% for Earth-size candidates, 8% for super-Earth-size candidates, 18% for Neptune-size candidates, 2% for Jupiter-size candidates, and 0.1% for very large candidates; a total of 0.34 candidates per star. Multi-candidate, transiting systems are frequent; 17% of the host stars have multi-candidate systems, and 34% of all the candidates are part of multi-candidate systems.

1,241 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report the distribution of planets as a function of planet radius (R_p), orbital period (P), and stellar effective temperature (Teff) for P < 50 day orbits around GK stars.
Abstract: We report the distribution of planets as a function of planet radius (R_p), orbital period (P), and stellar effective temperature (Teff) for P < 50 day orbits around GK stars. These results are based on the 1,235 planets (formally "planet candidates") from the Kepler mission that include a nearly complete set of detected planets as small as 2 Earth radii (Re). For each of the 156,000 target stars we assess the detectability of planets as a function of R_p and P. We also correct for the geometric probability of transit, R*/a. We consider first stars within the "solar subset" having Teff = 4100-6100 K, logg = 4.0-4.9, and Kepler magnitude Kp < 15 mag. We include only those stars having noise low enough to permit detection of planets down to 2 Re. We count planets in small domains of R_p and P and divide by the included target stars to calculate planet occurrence in each domain. Occurrence of planets varies by more than three orders of magnitude and increases substantially down to the smallest radius (2 Re) and out to the longest orbital period (50 days, ~0.25 AU) in our study. For P < 50 days, the radius distribution is given by a power law, df/dlogR= k R^\alpha. This rapid increase in planet occurrence with decreasing planet size agrees with core-accretion, but disagrees with population synthesis models. We fit occurrence as a function of P to a power law model with an exponential cutoff below a critical period P_0. For smaller planets, P_0 has larger values, suggesting that the "parking distance" for migrating planets moves outward with decreasing planet size. We also measured planet occurrence over Teff = 3600-7100 K, spanning M0 to F2 dwarfs. The occurrence of 2-4 Re planets in the Kepler field increases with decreasing Teff, making these small planets seven times more abundant around cool stars than the hottest stars in our sample. [abridged]

1,134 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the Kepler mission released data for 156,453 stars observed from the beginning of the science observations on 2 May through 16 September 2009, and there are 1235 planetary candidates with transit-like signatures detected in this period.
Abstract: On 1 February 2011 the Kepler Mission released data for 156,453 stars observed from the beginning of the science observations on 2 May through 16 September 2009. There are 1235 planetary candidates with transit like signatures detected in this period. These are associated with 997 host stars. Distributions of the characteristics of the planetary candidates are separated into five class-sizes; 68 candidates of approximately Earth-size (radius < 1.25 Earth radii), 288 super-Earth size (1.25 Earth radii < radius < 2 Earth radii), 662 Neptune-size (2 Earth radii < radius < 6 Earth radii), 165 Jupiter-size (6 Earth radii < radius < 15 Earth radii), and 19 up to twice the size of Jupiter (15 Earth radii < radius < 22 Earth radii). In the temperature range appropriate for the habitable zone, 54 candidates are found with sizes ranging from Earth-size to larger than that of Jupiter. Five are less than twice the size of the Earth. Over 74% of the planetary candidates are smaller than Neptune. The observed number versus size distribution of planetary candidates increases to a peak at two to three times Earth-size and then declines inversely proportional to area of the candidate. Our current best estimates of the intrinsic frequencies of planetary candidates, after correcting for geometric and sensitivity biases, are 6% for Earth-size candidates, 7% for super-Earth size candidates, 17% for Neptune-size candidates, and 4% for Jupiter-size candidates. Multi-candidate, transiting systems are frequent; 17% of the host stars have multi-candidate systems, and 33.9% of all the candidates are part of multi-candidate systems.

1,057 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
16 Sep 2011-Science
TL;DR: The detection of a planet whose orbit surrounds a pair of low-mass stars, comparable to Saturn in mass and size and on a nearly circular 229-day orbit around its two parent stars, suggests that the planet formed within a circumbinary disk.
Abstract: We report the detection of a planet whose orbit surrounds a pair of low-mass stars. Data from the Kepler spacecraft reveal transits of the planet across both stars, in addition to the mutual eclipses of the stars, giving precise constraints on the absolute dimensions of all three bodies. The planet is comparable to Saturn in mass and size and is on a nearly circular 229-day orbit around its two parent stars. The eclipsing stars are 20 and 69% as massive as the Sun and have an eccentric 41-day orbit. The motions of all three bodies are confined to within 0.5° of a single plane, suggesting that the planet formed within a circumbinary disk.

797 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the identity and characteristics of 305 released stars with planetary candidates are given, and five candidates are present in and near the habitable zone; two near super-Earth size, and three bracketing the size of Jupiter.
Abstract: In the spring of 2009, the Kepler Mission commenced high-precision photometry on nearly 156,000 stars to determine the frequency and characteristics of small exoplanets, conduct a guest observer program, and obtain asteroseismic data on a wide variety of stars. On 2010 June 15, the Kepler Mission released most of the data from the first quarter of observations. At the time of this data release, 705 stars from this first data set have exoplanet candidates with sizes from as small as that of Earth to larger than that of Jupiter. Here we give the identity and characteristics of 305 released stars with planetary candidates. Data for the remaining 400 stars with planetary candidates will be released in 2011 February. More than half the candidates on the released list have radii less than half that of Jupiter. Five candidates are present in and near the habitable zone; two near super-Earth size, and three bracketing the size of Jupiter. The released stars also include five possible multi-planet systems. One of these has two Neptune-size (2.3 and 2.5 Earth radius) candidates with near-resonant periods.

403 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A search of the time-series photometry from NASA's Kepler spacecraft reveals a transiting planet candidate orbiting the 11th magnitude G5 dwarf KIC 10593626 with a period of 290 days.
Abstract: A search of the time-series photometry from NASA's Kepler spacecraft reveals a transiting planet candidate orbiting the 11th magnitude G5 dwarf KIC 10593626 with a period of 290 days. The characteristics of the host star are well constrained by high-resolution spectroscopy combined with an asteroseismic analysis of the Kepler photometry, leading to an estimated mass and radius of 0.970 +/- 0.060 MSun and 0.979 +/- 0.020 RSun. The depth of 492 +/- 10ppm for the three observed transits yields a radius of 2.38 +/- 0.13 REarth for the planet. The system passes a battery of tests for false positives, including reconnaissance spectroscopy, high-resolution imaging, and centroid motion. A full BLENDER analysis provides further validation of the planet interpretation by showing that contamination of the target by an eclipsing system would rarely mimic the observed shape of the transits. The final validation of the planet is provided by 16 radial velocities obtained with HIRES on Keck 1 over a one year span. Although the velocities do not lead to a reliable orbit and mass determination, they are able to constrain the mass to a 3{\sigma} upper limit of 124 MEarth, safely in the regime of planetary masses, thus earning the designation Kepler-22b. The radiative equilibrium temperature is 262K for a planet in Kepler-22b's orbit. Although there is no evidence that Kepler-22b is a rocky planet, it is the first confirmed planet with a measured radius to orbit in the Habitable Zone of any star other than the Sun.

242 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The discovery of a wide (67?AU) substellar companion to the nearby (21?pc) young solar-metallicity M1 dwarf CD?35 2722, a member of the 100?Myr AB Doradus association, was reported in this paper.
Abstract: We present the discovery of a wide (67?AU) substellar companion to the nearby (21?pc) young solar-metallicity M1 dwarf CD?35 2722, a member of the 100?Myr AB Doradus association. Two epochs of astrometry from the NICI Planet-Finding Campaign confirm that CD?35 2722?B is physically associated with the primary star. Near-IR spectra indicate a spectral type of L4?1 with a moderately low surface gravity, making it one of the coolest young companions found to date. The absorption lines and near-IR continuum shape of CD?35 2722?B agree especially well the dusty field L4.5 dwarf 2MASS J22244381?0158521, while the near-IR colors and absolute magnitudes match those of the 5?Myr old L4 planetary-mass companion, 1RXS J160929.1?210524 b. Overall, CD?35 2722?B appears to be an intermediate-age benchmark for L dwarfs, with a less peaked H-band continuum than the youngest objects and near-IR absorption lines comparable to field objects. We fit Ames-Dusty model atmospheres to the near-IR spectra and find T eff= 1700-1900?K and log(g)= 4.5 ? 0.5. The spectra also show that the radial velocities of components A and B agree to within ?10?km?s?1, further confirming their physical association. Using the age and bolometric luminosity of CD?35 2722?B, we derive a mass of 31 ? 8 M Jup from the Lyon/Dusty evolutionary models. Altogether, young late-M to mid-L type companions appear to be overluminous for their near-IR spectral type compared with field objects, in contrast to the underluminosity of young late-L and early-T dwarfs.

148 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, five new models of the evolution of disks with inner radii of 20 to 60 AU and outer radii for central protostars with masses of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 M ☉ were presented.
Abstract: Doppler surveys have shown that more massive stars have significantly higher frequencies of giant planets inside ~3 AU than lower mass stars, consistent with giant planet formation by core accretion. Direct imaging searches have begun to discover significant numbers of giant planet candidates around stars with masses of ~1 M ☉ to ~2 M ☉ at orbital distances of ~20 AU to ~120 AU. Given the inability of core accretion to form giant planets at such large distances, gravitational instabilities of the gas disk leading to clump formation have been suggested as the more likely formation mechanism. Here, we present five new models of the evolution of disks with inner radii of 20 AU and outer radii of 60 AU, for central protostars with masses of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 M ☉, in order to assess the likelihood of planet formation on wide orbits around stars with varied masses. The disk masses range from 0.028 M ☉ to 0.21 M ☉, with initial Toomre Q stability values ranging from 1.1 in the inner disks to ~1.6 in the outer disks. These five models show that disk instability is capable of forming clumps on timescales of ~103 yr that, if they survive for longer times, could form giant planets initially on orbits with semimajor axes of ~30 AU to ~70 AU and eccentricities of ~0 to ~0.35, with initial masses of ~1 M Jup to ~5 M Jup, around solar-type stars, with more protoplanets forming as the mass of the protostar (and protoplanetary disk) is increased. In particular, disk instability appears to be a likely formation mechanism for the HR 8799 gas giant planetary system.

143 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present five new models of the evolution of disks with inner radii of 20 AU to 60 AU, for central protostars with masses of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5 and 2.6.
Abstract: Doppler surveys have shown that more massive stars have significantly higher frequencies of giant planets inside $\sim$ 3 AU than lower mass stars, consistent with giant planet formation by core accretion. Direct imaging searches have begun to discover significant numbers of giant planet candidates around stars with masses of $\sim$ 1 $M_\odot$ to $\sim$ 2 $M_\odot$ at orbital distances of $\sim$ 20 AU to $\sim$ 120 AU. Given the inability of core accretion to form giant planets at such large distances, gravitational instabilities of the gas disk leading to clump formation have been suggested as the more likely formation mechanism. Here we present five new models of the evolution of disks with inner radii of 20 AU and outer radii of 60 AU, for central protostars with masses of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 $M_\odot$, in order to assess the likelihood of planet formation on wide orbits around stars with varied masses. The disk masses range from 0.028 $M_\odot$ to 0.21 $M_\odot$, with initial Toomre $Q$ stability values ranging from 1.1 in the inner disks to $\sim 1.6$ in the outer disks. These five models show that disk instability is capable of forming clumps on time scales of $\sim 10^3$ yr that, if they survive for longer times, could form giant planets initially on orbits with semimajor axes of $\sim$ 30 AU to $\sim$ 70 AU and eccenticities of $\sim$ 0 to $\sim$ 0.35, with initial masses of $\sim 1 M_{Jup}$ to $\sim 5 M_{Jup}$, around solar-type stars, with more protoplanets forming as the mass of the protostar (and protoplanetary disk) are increased. In particular, disk instability appears to be a likely formation mechanism for the HR 8799 gas giant planetary system.

100 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The discovery of a wide (67 AU) substellar companion to the nearby (21 pc) young solar-metallicity M1 dwarf CD-35 2722, a member of the ~100 Myr AB Doradus association, was reported in this paper.
Abstract: We present the discovery of a wide (67 AU) substellar companion to the nearby (21 pc) young solar-metallicity M1 dwarf CD-35 2722, a member of the ~100 Myr AB Doradus association. Two epochs of astrometry from the NICI Planet-Finding Campaign confirm that CD-35 2722 B is physically associated with the primary star. Near-IR spectra indicate a spectral type of L4\pm1 with a moderately low surface gravity, making it one of the coolest young companions found to date. The absorption lines and near-IR continuum shape of CD-35 2722 B agree especially well the dusty field L4.5 dwarf 2MASS J22244381-0158521, while the near-IR colors and absolute magnitudes match those of the 5 Myr old L4 planetary-mass companion, 1RXS J160929.1-210524 b. Overall, CD-35 2722 B appears to be an intermediate-age benchmark for L-dwarfs, with a less peaked H-band continuum than the youngest objects and near-IR absorption lines comparable to field objects. We fit Ames-Dusty model atmospheres to the near-IR spectra and find T=1700-1900 K and log(g) =4.5\pm0.5. The spectra also show that the radial velocities of components A and B agree to within \pm10 km/s, further confirming their physical association. Using the age and bolometric luminosity of CD-35 2722 B, we derive a mass of 31\pm8 Mjup from the Lyon/Dusty evolutionary models. Altogether, young late-M to mid-L type companions appear to be over-luminous for their near-IR spectral type compared to field objects, in contrast to the under-luminosity of young late-L and early-T dwarfs.

96 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the angular momentum of the primary star was investigated based on Kepler photometry and Keck spectroscopy, and it was shown that the three largest sources of angular momentum (the stellar orbit, the planetary orbit, and the primary's rotation) are all closely aligned.
Abstract: Kepler-16 is an eccentric low-mass eclipsing binary with a circumbinary transiting planet. Here, we investigate the angular momentum of the primary star, based on Kepler photometry and Keck spectroscopy. The primary star’s rotation period is 35.1 ± 1.0 days, and its projected obliquity with respect to the stellar binary orbit is 1°.6 ± 2°.4. Therefore, the three largest sources of angular momentum—the stellar orbit, the planetary orbit, and the primary’s rotation—are all closely aligned. This finding supports a formation scenario involving accretion from a single disk. Alternatively, tides may have realigned the stars despite their relatively wide separation (0.2 AU), a hypothesis that is supported by the agreement between the measured rotation period and the “pseudosynchronous” period of tidal evolution theory. The rotation period, chromospheric activity level, and fractional light variations suggest a main-sequence age of 2–4 Gyr. Evolutionary models of low-mass stars can match the observed masses and radii of the primary and secondary stars to within about 3%.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the angular momentum of the primary star was investigated based on Kepler photometry and Keck spectroscopy, and it was found that the rotation period of the star is 35.1 +/- 1.0 days and its projected obliquity with respect to the stellar binary orbit is 1.6 +/- 2.4 degrees.
Abstract: Kepler-16 is an eccentric low-mass eclipsing binary with a circumbinary transiting planet. Here we investigate the angular momentum of the primary star, based on Kepler photometry and Keck spectroscopy. The primary star's rotation period is 35.1 +/- 1.0 days, and its projected obliquity with respect to the stellar binary orbit is 1.6 +/- 2.4 degrees. Therefore the three largest sources of angular momentum---the stellar orbit, the planetary orbit, and the primary's rotation---are all closely aligned. This finding supports a formation scenario involving accretion from a single disk. Alternatively, tides may have realigned the stars despite their relatively wide separation (0.2 AU), a hypothesis that is supported by the agreement between the measured rotation period and the "pseudosynchronous" period of tidal evolution theory. The rotation period, chromospheric activity level, and fractional light variations suggest a main-sequence age of 2-4 Gyr. Evolutionary models of low-mass stars can match the observed masses and radii of the primary and secondary stars to within about 3%.


Book
01 Jan 2011
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the next decade in the field of Planet Formation, Structure and Atmospheres, Interactions, and the Next Decade Part V. Poster Papers.
Abstract: Part I. Planet Formation Part II. Structure and Atmospheres Part III. Interactions Part IV. The Next Decade Part V. Poster Papers.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, two different types of new models of an MGU disk in orbit around a solar-mass protostar are presented, and the basic results are largely independent of both sets of variations.
Abstract: Short-lived radioisotopes (SLRIs) such as 60Fe and 26Al were likely injected into the solar nebula in a spatially and temporally heterogeneous manner. Marginally gravitationally unstable (MGU) disks, of the type required to form gas giant planets, are capable of rapid homogenization of isotopic heterogeneity as well as of rapid radial transport of dust grains and gases throughout a protoplanetary disk. Two different types of new models of an MGU disk in orbit around a solar-mass protostar are presented. The first set has variations in the number of terms in the spherical harmonic solution for the gravitational potential, effectively studying the effect of varying the spatial resolution of the gravitational torques responsible for MGU disk evolution. The second set explores the effects of varying the initial minimum value of the Toomre Q stability parameter, from values of 1.4 to 2.5, i.e., toward increasingly less unstable disks. The new models show that the basic results are largely independent of both sets of variations. MGU disk models robustly result in rapid mixing of initially highly heterogeneous distributions of SLRIs to levels of ~10% in both the inner ( 10 AU) disk regions, and to even lower levels (~2%) in intermediate regions, where gravitational torques are most effective at mixing. These gradients should have cosmochemical implications for the distribution of SLRIs and stable oxygen isotopes contained in planetesimals (e.g., comets) formed in the giant planet region (~5 to ~10 AU) compared to those formed elsewhere.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Because the Sun formed in a region where many other stars were forming more or less contemporaneously, the bi-polar outflows from all such stars enriched the local region in interstellar silicate and oxide dust, which may explain several observed anomalies in the meteorite record.
Abstract: Through the laboratory study of ancient solar system materials such as meteorites and comet dust, we can recognize evidence for the same star-formation processes in our own solar system as those that we can observe now through telescopes in nearby star-forming regions. High temperature grains formed in the innermost region of the solar system ended up much farther out in the solar system, not only the asteroid belt but even in the comet accretion region, suggesting a huge and efficient process of mass transport. Bi-polar outflows, turbulent diffusion, and marginal gravitational instability are the likely mechanisms for this transport. The presence of short-lived radionuclides in the early solar system, especially 60Fe, 26Al, and 41Ca, requires a nearby supernova shortly before our solar system was formed, suggesting that the Sun was formed in a massive star-forming region similar to Orion or Carina. Solar system formation may have been “triggered” by ionizing radiation originating from massive O and B stars at the center of an expanding HII bubble, one of which may have later provided the supernova source for the short-lived radionuclides. Alternatively, a supernova shock wave may have simultaneously triggered the collapse and injected the short-lived radionuclides. Because the Sun formed in a region where many other stars were forming more or less contemporaneously, the bi-polar outflows from all such stars enriched the local region in interstellar silicate and oxide dust. This may explain several observed anomalies in the meteorite record: a near absence of detectable (no extreme isotopic properties) presolar silicate grains and a dichotomy in the isotope record between 26Al and nucleosynthetic (nonradiogenic) anomalies.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, two different types of new models of a MGU disk in orbit around a solar-mass protostar are presented, and the basic results are largely independent of both sets of variations.
Abstract: Short-lived radioisotopes (SLRI) such as $^{60}$Fe and $^{26}$Al were likely injected into the solar nebula in a spatially and temporally heterogeneous manner. Marginally gravitationally unstable (MGU) disks, of the type required to form gas giant planets, are capable of rapid homogenization of isotopic heterogeneity as well as of rapid radial transport of dust grains and gases throughout a protoplanetary disk. Two different types of new models of a MGU disk in orbit around a solar-mass protostar are presented. The first set has variations in the number of terms in the spherical harmonic solution for the gravitational potential, effectively studying the effect of varying the spatial resolution of the gravitational torques responsible for MGU disk evolution. The second set explores the effects of varying the initial minimum value of the Toomre $Q$ stability parameter, from values of 1.4 to 2.5, i.e., toward increasingly less unstable disks. The new models show that the basic results are largely independent of both sets of variations. MGU disk models robustly result in rapid mixing of initially highly heterogeneous distributions of SLRIs to levels of $\sim$ 10% in both the inner ($ $ 10 AU) disk regions, and to even lower levels ($\sim$ 2%) in intermediate regions, where gravitational torques are most effective at mixing. These gradients should have cosmochemical implications for the distribution of SLRIs and stable oxygen isotopes contained in planetesimals (e.g., comets) formed in the giant planet region ($\sim$ 5 to $\sim$ 10 AU) compared to those formed elsewhere.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors obtained precision astrometry of the planet hosting M dwarf GJ 317 in the framework of the Carnegie Astrometric Planet Search project, which gave a distance determination of 15.3 pc, 65% further than previous estimates.
Abstract: We have obtained precision astrometry of the planet hosting M dwarf GJ 317 in the framework of the Carnegie Astrometric Planet Search project. The new astrometric measurements give a distance determination of 15.3 pc, 65% further than previous estimates. The resulting absolute magnitudes suggest it is metal rich and more massive than previously assumed. This result strengthens the correlation between high metallicity and the presence of gas giants around low mass stars. At 15.3 pc, the minimal astrometric amplitude for planet candidate GJ 317b is 0.3 milliarcseconds (edge-on orbit), just below our astrometric sensitivity. However, given the relatively large number of observations and good astrometric precision, a Bayesian Monte Carlo Markov Chain analysis indicates that the mass of planet b has to be smaller than twice the minimum mass with a 99% confidence level, with a most likely value of 2.5 Mjup. Additional RV measurements obtained with Keck by the Lick-Carnegie Planet search program confirm the presence of an additional very long period planet candidate, with a period of 20 years or more. Even though such an object will imprint a large astrometric wobble on the star, its curvature is yet not evident in the astrometry. Given high metallicity, and the trend indicating that multiple systems are rich in low mass companions, this system is likely to host additional low mass planets in its habitable zone that can be readily detected with state-of-the-art optical and near infrared RV measurements.

Journal ArticleDOI
25 Nov 2011-Science
TL;DR: The discovery of a millisecond pulsar found to have a planetary-mass companion is discussed, and Rasio wonders whether this new object should be accorded the status of being a “planet,” even though it does not orbit a star similar to the authors' Sun.
Abstract: In his Perspective “A black widow's best friend?” (23 September, p. [1712][1]), F. A. Rasio discusses the discovery of a millisecond pulsar found to have a planetary-mass companion ([ 1 ][2]). Rasio points out that the object currently has a mass similar to that of Jupiter, but probably began its life as a stellar companion. He explains that the pulsar's intense radiation field likely eroded away most of the object's mass over time. Rasio argues that even though this object probably did not form in the traditional manner for planets—i.e., by growth in a rotating disk—it should nevertheless be classified as a “planet” by virtue of its present-day mass. He notes that in 2006 the International Astronomical Union (IAU) approved a definition of what constitutes a “planet” in our Solar System (primarily with Pluto in mind): It “(a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit” ([ 2 ][3]). Rasio wonders whether this new object should be accorded the status of being a “planet,” even though it does not orbit a star similar to our Sun. ![Figure][4] CREDIT: SWINBURNE ASTRONOMY PRODUCTIONS, SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AUSTRALIA An answer to his question was proposed by the IAU's Working Group on Extrasolar Planets (WGESP) in 2001, when the first system of pulsar planets ([ 3 ][5]), discovered in 1992, was approved as a planetary system. That system is believed to have formed in a manner different from the object on which Rasio is pondering, but the WGESP's definition ([ 4 ][6]) does not take into account the formation mechanism of any planet. The definition includes the statement, “Objects with true masses below the limiting mass for thermonuclear fusion of deuterium (currently calculated to be 13 Jupiter masses for objects of solar metallicity) that orbit stars or stellar remnants are ‘planets’ (no matter how they formed).” According to this statement, the IAU status of the newly discovered companion ([ 1 ][2]) to a millisecond pulsar is clear: It is a planet. 1. [↵][7] 1. M. Bailes 2. et al ., Science, 333, 1717 (2011). [OpenUrl][8][Abstract/FREE Full Text][9] 2. [↵][10] International Astronomical Union (IAU), IAU 2006 General Assembly: Result of the IAU Resolution Votes (2006); [www.iau.org/public_press/news/detail/iau0603/][11]. 3. [↵][12] 1. A. Wolszczan, 2. D. A. Frail , Nature, 355, 145 (1992). [OpenUrl][13][CrossRef][14][Web of Science][15] 4. [↵][16] Working Group on Extrasolar Planets (WGESP) of the International Astronomical Union, “Position Statement on the Definition of a ‘Planet’” (2011); [www.dtm.ciw.edu/users/boss/definition.html][17]. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1212489 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: pending:yes [5]: #ref-3 [6]: #ref-4 [7]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [8]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DScience%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1126%252Fscience.1208890%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F21868629%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [9]: /lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiQUJTVCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6Mzoic2NpIjtzOjU6InJlc2lkIjtzOjEzOiIzMzMvNjA1MC8xNzE3IjtzOjQ6ImF0b20iO3M6MjU6Ii9zY2kvMzM0LzYwNTkvMTA1Ny4xLmF0b20iO31zOjg6ImZyYWdtZW50IjtzOjA6IiI7fQ== [10]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text" [11]: http://www.iau.org/public_press/news/detail/iau0603/ [12]: #xref-ref-3-1 "View reference 3 in text" [13]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DNature%26rft.volume%253D355%26rft.spage%253D145%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1038%252F355145a0%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [14]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1038/355145a0&link_type=DOI [15]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=A1992GY62900051&link_type=ISI [16]: #xref-ref-4-1 "View reference 4 in text" [17]: http://www.dtm.ciw.edu/users/boss/definition.html