Astronomers have detected at least one stale dust belt surrounding the closest star to the Sun , Proxima Centauri . The mien of such a lineament suggests there might be more than one major planet orbiting Proxima .
The champion is a red gnome much smaller and coolheaded than our Sun , and it is orbited by one known satellite , Proxima b , that is Earth - sized and temperate . The observations , find with the Atacama Large Millimeter / submillimeter Array ( ALMA ) , shows a anchor ring of dust a few hundred million kilometer from the star , with hints in the data of another anchor ring further out . This discovery is account in theAstrophysical Journal Letters .
“ The dust around Proxima is important because , following the find of the terrestrial satellite Proxima b , it ’s the first indicant of the presence of an luxuriant worldwide system , and not just a single satellite , around the wiz closest to our Sun , ” conduct author Guillem Anglada , from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía , said in astatement .
The rubble belted ammunition is approximate to weigh around 1 pct of our planet and have a temperature of about -230 ° C ( -382 ° F ) , which is like to the temperature of the Kuiper Belt – a disc that ’s made mostly of icy trunk and dwarf planet beyond the orbit of Neptune .
The data also provides a glimpse of another much colder smash about 10 time further out than the newly distinguish I . This is the best grounds so far of multiple planets in the system . Proxima b is only 4 million kilometers ( 2.5 million miles ) from the star , so it would n’t have the influence to mold junk belts so far out .
“ This event evoke that Proxima Centauri may have a multiple satellite system with a rich account of interactions that result in the constitution of a dust swath , " Anglada tot . " Further study may also provide entropy that might repoint to the emplacement of as yet unidentified additional planets . "
realize the Proxima Centauri organisation is highly important . Researchers intend to send the first interstellar microprobe , the so - called projectBreakthrough Starshot , there before long .
“ These first results show that ALMA can detect junk structures revolve around Proxima , " add co - author Pedro Amado . " Further observance will give us a more detailed picture of Proxima ’s global organization . In combination with the study of protoplanetary magnetic disc around vernal whizz , many of the detail of the processes that direct to the organization of the Earth and the Solar System about 4600 million years ago will be unveiled . What we are learn now is just the appetiser compared to what is do ! ”
