HD 149026 b is an extrasolar planet approximately 257 light-years away in the constellation of Hercules. The planet was discovered after it transited its parent star, HD 149026. It is notable for the presence of an exceptionally large planetary core suggested by measurements of its radius and mass.
The planet was discovered by the N2K Consortium in 2005, which searches stars for closely orbiting giant planets similar to 51 Pegasi b using the high...
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HD 149026 b is an extrasolar planet approximately 257 light-years away in the constellation of Hercules. The planet was discovered after it transited its parent star, HD 149026. It is notable for the presence of an exceptionally large planetary core suggested by measurements of its radius and mass.
The planet was discovered by the N2K Consortium in 2005, which searches stars for closely orbiting giant planets similar to 51 Pegasi b using the highly successful radial velocity method. The spectrum of the star was studied from the Keck and Subaru Telescopes. After the planet was first detected from the Doppler effect it caused in the light of the host star, it was studied for transits at the Fairborn Observatory. A tiny decrease of light (0.003 magnitudes) was detected every time the planet was transiting the star, thus confirming its existence.
Although the change of brightness caused by the transiting planet is tiny, it is detectable by amateur astronomers, providing an opportunity...
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