PSR B1257+12 B facts for kids
PSR B1257+12 B is a special planet found far away from our Solar System. Scientists call these planets "extrasolar planets" or "exoplanets." This planet is located in a group of stars called the constellation of Virgo. It is about 980 light-years from Earth. That's a very long distance!
This planet is famous because it was the first planet ever discovered outside of our own Solar System. It is much larger than Earth, being over four times bigger. PSR B1257+12 B orbits a special type of star called a pulsar. This pulsar is named PSR B1257+12. The planet takes about 66 days to go around its star. It orbits at a distance of about 0.36 AU. An AU is the distance from Earth to the Sun.
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What is an Exoplanet?
An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside of our Solar System. The word "exo" means "outside." So, an exoplanet is simply a planet that is not in our neighborhood.
Scientists have found thousands of exoplanets. They use different methods to find them. Finding exoplanets helps us learn more about how planets form. It also helps us understand if life might exist elsewhere.
The Discovery of PSR B1257+12 B
PSR B1257+12 B was discovered in 1992. This was a very exciting discovery for scientists. Before this, we only knew about planets in our own Solar System.
The planet was found by a team of astronomers. They were led by Aleksander Wolszczan. They used a special radio telescope. This telescope was in Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
How it was Discovered
Scientists found PSR B1257+12 B by studying its star. The star, PSR B1257+12, is a pulsar. A pulsar is a very dense, spinning star. It sends out beams of radio waves. These beams sweep past Earth like a lighthouse.
Scientists can measure these radio waves very precisely. If a planet orbits the pulsar, its gravity pulls on the star. This pull causes tiny changes in the timing of the radio pulses. By watching these changes, scientists can figure out if planets are there. They can also learn about the planets' size and orbit.
About the Planet PSR B1257+12 B
PSR B1257+12 B is one of three planets found around its pulsar. It is the second planet from the star. The other two planets are PSR B1257+12 C and PSR B1257+12 A.
This planet is considered a "Super-Earth." A Super-Earth is an exoplanet that is more massive than Earth. However, it is less massive than the gas giants in our Solar System, like Neptune or Uranus.
Its Orbit and Star
PSR B1257+12 B orbits its pulsar every 66 days. This is a much faster orbit than Earth's. Earth takes 365 days to orbit the Sun. The planet is quite close to its star.
The pulsar PSR B1257+12 is a very old star. It is the leftover core of a star that exploded. This explosion was a supernova. Pulsars are very different from our Sun. They are much smaller and incredibly dense.
Why is PSR B1257+12 B Important?
The discovery of PSR B1257+12 B changed how we think about planets. It showed that planets can form and exist in unexpected places. Before 1992, many thought planets could only form around normal stars like our Sun.
This discovery opened up a whole new field of astronomy. It led to the search for many more exoplanets. Now, we know that planets are very common in our galaxy.
Images for kids
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Artist's impression image of the planet PSR B1257+12 B.
See also
In Spanish: Poltergeist (planeta) para niños
