Using the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) in southeastern Arizona, astronomers have explored a young star known as HR8799 and its family of four planets.

Astronomers have studied the system as part of the LEECH (LBT Exozodi Exoplanet Common Hunt) survey. The star, which is just 30 million years old, is present 130 light years from earth. This planetary system is the first ever to be directly imaged by astronomers.

Therefore, it was the preferred choice for the LEECH survey in which astronomers received new opportunities to clock new images and define the properties of the exoplanets orbiting.

The system has registered a place in the history books as it is the first star that is orbited by many planets.

Christian Veillet, Director of the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory (LBTO), was of the view that the LEECH program has been designed to detect young exoplanets. It will be done so by studying stars in infrared light.

The L/M-band infrared camera has also been installed at the observatory studies electromagnetic radiation, which is also called as LBT Interferometer (LBTI). Astronomers said that most of the telescopes glow at this band.

“However, with LBT, everything about the telescope, its adaptive optics system and science camera have been optimized to minimize this glow. As a result, LEECH is more sensitive than previous exoplanet imaging surveys, and this new image of HR 8799 is proof”, affirmed survey’s head Andy Skemer from the University of Arizona.

Through investigation, astronomers came to know that the four visible planets interact with each other through gravity. Astronomers have said about the visible planets, as they were also able to determine some of the physical characteristics of an unseen inner fifth planet that is suspected to orbit around the star.