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Debris Ring Around Star Fomalhaut (HD 216956)
About the Object
- R.A. PositionR.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.22h 57m 39.04s
- Dec. PositionDec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.-29° 37' 20.04"
- ConstellationConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.Piscis Austrinus
- DistanceDistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.25 light-years away (7.7 parsecs)
- DimensionsDimensionsThe physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.The ring is approximately 280AU (42 billion kilometers, 26 billion miles) in diameter.
About the Data
- Data DescriptionData DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator. - InstrumentInstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.HST>ACS/HRC
- Exposure DatesExposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.May, August, October, 2004, Total Exposure Time: 3.6 hours
- FiltersFiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.F606W (V), F814W (I)
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.Fomalhaut, HD 216956
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.Star with Disk
- Release DateJune 22, 2005
- Science ReleaseElusive Planet Reshapes a Ring Around Neighboring Star
- Credit

Related Images & Videos

Debris Ring Around Star Fomalhaut (HD 216956)
The top view, taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, is the first visible-light image of a dust ring around the nearby, bright young star Fomalhaut (HD 216956). The image offers the strongest evidence yet that an unruly planet may be tugging on the dusty belt. The left part of...

Fomalhaut Ring Artwork – Annotated
This illustration of a ring of debris encircling the star Fomalhaut shows the putative planet orbiting inside the ring. In this picture, the background stars and constellations are identified. This is not the same view we would see from Earth, because Fomalhaut is 25 light-years...

Simulation of Fomalhaut Planet and Ring – Face-on
Simulation of a planet and debris ring around the star Fomalhaut. The planet, in an eccentric orbit causes the center of the ring to be offset from the star. This animation is based on research by the independent research team of Adam Deller and Sarah Maddison (Swinburne Center...

Simulation of Fomalhaut Planet and Ring – Inclined
Simulation of a planet and debris ring around the star Fomalhaut. The planet, in an eccentric orbit causes the center of the ring to be offset from the star. This animation is based on research by the independent research team of Adam Deller and Sarah Maddison (Swinburne Center...

Simulation of Fomalhaut Planet and Ring – Face-on and Inclined
Simulation of a planet and debris ring around the star Fomalhaut. The planet, in an eccentric orbit causes the center of the ring to be offset from the star. This animation is based on research by the independent research team of Adam Deller and Sarah Maddison (Swinburne Center...
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Details
Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov