Institute of Astronomy

Planets

Do missing Jupiters mean massive comet belts?

Published on 27/11/2012 

Do missing Jupiters mean massive comet belts?

Using ESA’s Herschel space observatory, astronomers have discovered vast comet belts surrounding two nearby planetary systems known to host only Earth-to-Neptune-mass worlds. The comet reservoirs could have delivered life-giving oceans to the innermost planets.

Solar System

One of the most curious small body populations within the Solar System is irregular satellites. Investigations of the dust created in collisions between these objects is undertaken by Mark Wyatt and Grant Kennedy.

Planetary System Dynamics

Research into the dynamics of extrasolar planetary systems at the Institute of Astronomy covers a broad spectrum of topics.