djb@cbosgd.UUCP (11/01/83)
The following is taken without permission from today's (10/31/83) USA TODAY (a fine newspaper, I might add). **************************************************************************** TELESCOPE MAY SPOT NEW PLANET By Michael Mecham USA TODAY WASHINGTON - The orbiting telescope IRAS may have sighted at least one new planet, and more planets may come to light next week when astronomers gather here. "There's a very good chance that IRAS will identify a new planet or two" circling the Sun beyond the orbits of Neptune and Pluto, said Nick Gautier, an infra-red astronomer from the University of Arizona. Scientists from England and the Netherlands - the USA's partners in the IRAS venture - will meet here Nov. 9. IRAS, launched by NASA Jan. 25 at a cost of $119.3 million, discovered more about the Large Magellanic Cloud - our nearest galaxy - in just one minute of operation than had ever been obtained by earthbound observatories. In 12 hours of operation, it doubled the number of small galaxies that had been observed near the Milky Way. It also discovered five comets, which astronomers believe are cruical to determining the solar system's formation. **************************************************************************** David Bryant Bell Labs Columbus, OH (614) 860-4516 (cbosg!djb)
alle@ihuxb.UUCP (11/11/83)
Washington [UPI] - A satellite telescope that discovered what may
be a solar system [sic] also has found a previously unknown asteroid
among the planets, stars in formation and more comets than any other
observatory in history, scientists from three nations said Wednesday.
Astronomy textbooks will have to be rewritten because of the new
evidence, the experts said.
Scientists from the Us, Holland and Britain assembled at NASA's
headquarters to report on the latest data from the IRAS.
They said that in addition to the asteroid, IRAS has found
evidence fo previously unobserved rings around a distant star and
three bands of dust circling through Earth's solar system.
"So far the results of this effort have been nothing short of
spectacular," said NASA chief James Beggs, speaking for the entire
panel.
"The taxpayers got a look at the universe that's never been seen
before," said Nancy Boggess, an astronomer on the US IRAS team. "It
gave us a definite perspective on our own planet here. A lot of
chapters in astronomy books will be rewritten because of what we found
here."
US astronomer Fred Gillett said IRAS has detected an
asteroid-like body less than 1.2 miles across that passes closer to
the sun than any known planet or asteroid in the solar system. Its
orbit intersects that of Mercury.
Beggs said the satellite is responsible for the discovery of five
comets, "more new comets than any other observer in our history."
Also discovered were three giant dust shells around Betelgeuse,
an older star and one of the brightest in the Orion constellation.
The shells will help scientists study the deterioration of stars.
IRAS mapped three rings of dust within the solar system, possibly
the result of asteroid collisions. The dust lies mostly in the plane
in which the planets travel.
Gerry Neugebauer, head of the US IRAS team, said information from
the satellite also showed that many areas of the universe previously
thought to be empty are filled with small clouds of gas and dust
believed to be stars in formation.
IRAS was launched in January, but because its coolant is running
out, it will not be useful after January, 1984, the panel said. The
scientists said the next-generation telescope is to be launched in the
1990s.