Serendipity 7,821 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Believe it or not, a 15-year-old boy did just that, according to Keele University in England, UK. While undertaking work experience at the university, Tom Wagg noticed a tiny dip in the light of a star as a planet passed in front of it -- that planet had supposedly not been on anyone's radar until then. The university said it has since taken two years to verify his findings. "I'm hugely excited to have a found a new planet, and I'm very impressed that we can find them so far away," Tom said, according to a statement from the university. He apparently spotted the planet by scouring the data collected by Keele University's WASP (Wide Angle Search for Planets) project, which scans millions of stars in night skies and searches for tiny dips, or transits, caused by the passing of planets. An artist's impression of WASP-142b orbiting its star. Nameless for the time being, the new planet has been labeled with the catalog number WASP-142b, as it's the 142nd discovery by the WASP collaboration. Invisible to the naked eye and 1,000 light years away, the planet is the same size as Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, but orbits its star in only two days. Such frequent orbits make such planets easier to find -- if you can describe the feat as easy. After the discovery of the planet, astronomers at the University of Geneva and the University of Liege confirmed that it had the required size and mass to be identified as a planet. And the university is planning a competition to find a name. A star student at a nearby school and a science enthusiast, Wagg had requested the work experience after learning that Keele University had a research group studying extrasolar planets, or exoplanets -- planets that exist around stars other than the sun. Source I'm 17, but he's done more than what I can ever achieve See talent here-->http://bit.ly/2eqeUxK Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad 2,499 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Good for him! I love space so this would be a dream come true for me! Haha. ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʟᴏᴠᴇ / ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ꜰᴇᴇʟꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeoFameMonster 1,592 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 take me to you planet, VENUS!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleFandor 204 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I dont see the big deal o.o. many planet are found every day, and this planet isn't special either. I think its just good PR for the university for telling the press the 15 year old intern found it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveandMagic 1,731 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Believe it or not, a 15-year-old boy did just that, according to Keele University in England, UK. While undertaking work experience at the university, Tom Wagg noticed a tiny dip in the light of a star as a planet passed in front of it -- that planet had supposedly not been on anyone's radar until then. The university said it has since taken two years to verify his findings. "I'm hugely excited to have a found a new planet, and I'm very impressed that we can find them so far away," Tom said, according to a statement from the university. He apparently spotted the planet by scouring the data collected by Keele University's WASP (Wide Angle Search for Planets) project, which scans millions of stars in night skies and searches for tiny dips, or transits, caused by the passing of planets. An artist's impression of WASP-142b orbiting its star. Nameless for the time being, the new planet has been labeled with the catalog number WASP-142b, as it's the 142nd discovery by the WASP collaboration. Invisible to the naked eye and 1,000 light years away, the planet is the same size as Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, but orbits its star in only two days. Such frequent orbits make such planets easier to find -- if you can describe the feat as easy. After the discovery of the planet, astronomers at the University of Geneva and the University of Liege confirmed that it had the required size and mass to be identified as a planet. And the university is planning a competition to find a name. A star student at a nearby school and a science enthusiast, Wagg had requested the work experience after learning that Keele University had a research group studying extrasolar planets, or exoplanets -- planets that exist around stars other than the sun. Source I'm 17, but he's done more than what I can ever achieve That's awesome! How thrilling to make a contribution to a field your passionate about! And don't sell yourself short, Happy Boy, it's not a race! Just repeat to yourself, "It's just a show. I should really just relax." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serendipity 7,821 Posted June 11, 2015 Author Share Posted June 11, 2015 That's awesome! How thrilling to make a contribution to a field your passionate about! And don't sell yourself short, Happy Boy, it's not a race! Thanks for your love PS I just used my last like on you today See talent here-->http://bit.ly/2eqeUxK Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveandMagic 1,731 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Thanks for your love Hidden Content I'm flattered doll. Just repeat to yourself, "It's just a show. I should really just relax." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
homomo 23,883 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Exactly what I'm going to school for + more 0110100001100101011011000110110001101111 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miker 5,683 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 And then there is me.....I can't tell one planet from another looking up into a billion stars at night. Mars..........or bust! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dangerous Man 9,245 Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Call it planet Asia please. "A little less conversation and a little more touch my body." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropico 4,145 Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Congrats yo him! Must be exciting. ♢ Social Justice Enthusiast ♢ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hexxx 2,244 Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Call it planet Asia please. if it's over running with bapigs Lady Gaga/ Madonna/Lana /Azealia Banks/ Jazmine Sullivan/ DEEE-LITE/ Moko Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lona Delery 7,227 Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 It's no big deal though, is it? New planets are found 24/7 Sometimes it feels like I've got a war in my mind, I wanna get off but I keep riding the ride Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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