Possible planet detected in M31

A model has been done (Italian, Russian, Swiz, and Spanish colaboration) that suggests that it is possible to detect exo-galactic planets via gravitational lensing (causing increase in light curve). A 2004 study of M31 was re-visited and one candidate has been found where the light curve may indicate presence of planet (6 times size of Jupiter) or a brown dwarf.

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8097141.stm
arxiv.org/abs/0906.1050

Mark

Amazing, that a planet over 2-3 million light years away could have been detected!

Dave_Lillis wrote:

Amazing, that a planet over 2-3 million light years away could have been detected!

I agree, exciting news indeed. I'd say it's only a matter of time (within a decade, like) that we will have a space telescope capable of resolving extragalactic planetary candidates in other galaxies in the Local Group. Resolving power is the issue at the moment, but when you see how there are some ground-based telescopes better than Hubble, we're not far off...

Seanie.