NASA, ESA Telescopes Find Evidence for Asteroid Belt Around Vega

NASA, ESA Telescopes Find Evidence for Asteroid Belt Around Vega
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013...roid_Belt.html

The discovery of an asteroid belt-like band of debris around Vega makes the star similar to another observed star called Fomalhaut. The data are consistent with both stars having inner, warm belts and outer, cool belts separated by a gap. This architecture is similar to the asteroid and Kuiper belts in our own solar system.

What is maintaining the gap between the warm and cool belts around Vega and Fomalhaut? The results strongly suggest the answer is multiple planets. Our solar system's asteroid belt, which lies between Mars and Jupiter, is maintained by the gravity of the terrestrial planets and the giant planets, and the outer Kuiper belt is sculpted by the giant planets.

On Jan 8, 6:31*pm, Sam Wormley wrote:
NASA, ESA Telescopes Find Evidence for Asteroid Belt Around Vega







http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013..._Asteroid_Belt...
The discovery of an asteroid belt-like band of debris around Vega makes the star similar to another observed star called Fomalhaut. The data are consistent with both stars having inner, warm belts and outer, cool belts separated by a gap. This architecture is similar to the asteroid and Kuiper belts in our own solar system.

What is maintaining the gap between the warm and cool belts around Vega and Fomalhaut? The results strongly suggest the answer is multiple planets. Our solar system's asteroid belt, which lies between Mars and Jupiter, is maintained by the gravity of the terrestrial planets and the giant planets, and the outer Kuiper belt is sculpted by the giant planets.

Back in the '80s, the IRAS had discovered an infrared excess around
Vega, leading to speculation about a "Vegan" (!?) planetary system.

Vega will have a shorter life span than the Sun but it will also have
a wider habitable zone for planets. Intelligent life might not have
time to develop in that system, so for aliens bent on colonizing other
star systems, but who might have ethical concerns about taking over a
potentially civilization-bearing planet, such systems might look like
prime real estate.