Pulsar Planets - The First Exoplanets Discovered

Text

Endpoint of Stellar Evolution for Stars with Masses 8x or more than that of the Sun

PSR 1257+12Wolszczan & Frail 1992 (Nature, 355, 145)

Residuals from constant frequency

Two-planet solution, expressed as a velocity shift. 3 planets are now known. (A 4th planet reported in

1998 but later retracted).

A disk was discovered around the pulsar 4U 0142+61

White Dwarfs also have Disks - Maybe Planets?

Spectral Energy Distribution for GD 16

Silicate Emission Band - GD 40

Artist’s conception of Disk Generation around G29-38