Finding Planets While They're Hot

When Worlds Collide: Have Astronomers Observed the Aftermath of a Distant Planetary Collision?

Astronomers have announced that a mystery object orbiting a star 170 light-years from Earth might have formed from the collision and merger of two protoplanets. The object, known as 2M1207B, has puzzled astronomers since its discovery because it seems to fall outside the spectrum of physical possibility. Its temperature, luminosity, age, and location do not match up with any theory. Studying 2M1207B is teaching astronomers about how to interpret data gathered from distant planetary objects, and may yield clues about what traits to look for when searching for habitable, extrasolar worlds.

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