HD 189733b transits its parent star during stellar flare (artist’s impression)

  • 12 years ago
In this animation, exoplanet HD 189733b is seen in closeup as it passes in front of its parent star. Hubble observed the planet do this in 2010 and 2011. This simulation depicts the 2011 observations, in which the planet’s atmosphere is evaporating away, possibly under the influence of a stellar flare.

In this video, the surface of the star, which is around 80% the mass of the Sun, is animated based on observations of the Sun from the Solar Dynamics Observatory.

Credit:
NASA, ESA, L. Calçada, Solar Dynamics Observatory

More information and download-options:
http://www.spacetelescope.org/videos/heic1209c/

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