Astronomers G. Marcy and P. Butler announced the discovery of a planet associated with this star in 1996 and reported it to have a mass of about 2.4 Jupiters or more with an orbital period of 3 years. 47 UMa b, as a gas giant surrounded by a ring of material - analogous to our own gas giant Saturn . In the foreground lies a hypothetical moon of 47 UMa b. 47 UMa is only 44 light years distant, fairly close by astronomical standards - yet there is evidence for planetary systems which are closer still. NASA plans to explore nearby planetary systems using spaceborne observatories.
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