HR 8799 Exoplanet System: Positional Schematic

Extended Description

This diagram depicts the positions of four exoplanets around star HR 8799.

In the bottom left corner is a label that reads “HR 8799 planet orbits.”

In the bottom right corner is a white ellipse that is tilted relative to the viewer. Its widest point is a little larger than a quarter of the overall illustration. Text below the ellipse reads “Relative size of Neptune’s orbit.”

The center of the diagram shows four exoplanets orbiting about a concentric point. This point, represented by a white dot, is star HR 8799.

Immediately outside the white dot is a green oval, which outlines the planet’s elliptical orbit, with a red dot positioned at 11 o’clock. The red dot is labeled “e.” This represents the orbit of exoplanet e of the HR 8799 system, which is about half the relative orbit of Neptune.

The next orbit is represented by a slightly larger red oval with a pink dot positioned at two o’clock. The pink dot is labeled “d.” The orbit of exoplanet d is about the same size as the relative orbit of Neptune.

Beyond the orbit of exoplanet d is another slightly wider red oval with its own pink dot. The pink dot on this orbit, which is near nine o’clock, is labeled “c.” Its orbit is about twice the relative orbit of Neptune.

The outermost and widest orbit is also represented by a red oval with its own pink dot positioned near five o’clock. The dot is labeled “b.” The orbit of b around star HR 8799 is almost three times the relative size of Neptune’s orbit.

Image Alt Text

Diagram of four exoplanets orbiting the star HR 8799.