Exoplanet 51 Eridani b (Gemini)

Extended Description

The background is largely a medium blue. At top left, the label reads "Gemini/GPI." At the center is an opaque white circle with a black plus sign at its center, indicating where light from the central star was blocked. The star is labeled in large white text to its immediate left, "51 Eri." There is a dotted-white circle that surrounds the central star that takes up about a sixth of the overall image. To its top left is the label "Size of Saturn’s orbit around the Sun." Immediately around the opaque white circle are squiggles, which are observational noise. The squiggles are black, white, white-and-orange, and orange. They partially cover the blue background. A small white dot encircled by orange appears between 5 and 6 o’clock and is labeled "b." The orange and black flame-like noise squiggles continue, becoming less orange and more often black or gray toward the edges. The field of view of the telescope is circular, with solid blue areas in the corners of the square image indicating regions where there is no data. At bottom right, a white horizontal scale bar takes up less than one eighth of the image and is labeled "10 A U (astronomical units)."

Image Alt Text

Direct image of the exoplanet 51 Eridani b from the Gemini Planet Imager/GPI. In the center, against a largely blue background, is an opaque white circle indicating where light from the central star, 51 Eridani, was blocked. A dotted-white circle surrounds the central star and takes up about a sixth of the overall image. To the top left of the dotted circle is the label "Size of Saturn’s orbit around the Sun." A small white dot appears between 5 and 6 o’clock and is labeled "b."