NASA has confirmed to find a solar system that is very similar to our solar system. NASA flying observatory, SOFIA first discovered the Epsilon Eridani solar system.
Epsilon Eridani solar system is located 10.5 light years away from planet Earth in the southern hemisphere of Eridanus constellation. The latest image from NASA flying observatory, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy or SOFIA confirms the Epsilon Eridani solar system is similar to our solar system. According to SOFIA Science Center, the team has completed the investigation of Epsilon Eridani planetary system to conclude the similarity.
The solar system is also the main location in the Babylon 5 science fiction TV series, and Epsilon Eridani is the closest planetary system similar to the early sun. The investigation team was led by Kate Su of the University of Arizona, according to NASA. In their investigation, the team was able to distinguish the two theoretical models of the warm debris location in the Epsilon Eridani planetary system.
The team obtained the latest images of Epsilon Eridani planetary system, also known as eps Eri from the SOFIA mid-infrared camera called FORCAST, or Faint Object infraRed Camera. FORCAST is a very powerful camera in the SOFIA telescope, that capable to detect the strongest infrared emission from the warm material at wavelengths between 25-40 microns around the Epsilon Eridani. The emissions at that frequency are undetectable by the observatories on Earth.
"Impressive dynamic range of the FORCAST camera allowed us to resolve the warm emission around eps Eri," Su said regarding the latest finding from the Epsilon Eridani. "It really is impressive how eps Eri, a much younger version of our solar system, is put together like ours.”
Prior to their study, Epsilon Eridani was found to contain a debris disk, a leftover material that still orbited the star after the planetary system construction has completed. In our solar system, the debris disk is located in the asteroid belt, and Kuiper belt, a region beyond Neptune that houses hundreds of thousands of icy-rocky objects. Watch the report on the latest finding on the Epsilon Eridani planetary system below:
