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Finding mass

  1. Jul 15, 2007 #1
    On October 15, 2001, a planet was discovered orbiting around the star HD68988. Its orbital distance was measured to be 10.5 million kilometers from the center of the star, and its orbital period was estimated at 6.3 days.

    Question A:
    What is the mass of HD68988? -- I found this: [tex]2.31*10^{30} kg[/tex]

    Question B:
    Express your answer in terms of our sun's mass. -- I have no idea what they mean by this.

    Any ideas??

    -- Abarak
  2. jcsd
  3. Jul 15, 2007 #2

    Doc Al

    User Avatar

    Staff: Mentor

    If your answer was 50 units and the sun's mass was 10 units, then your answer could be expressed as 5 sun masses. (Just divide.)

    You'll need to look up the sun's mass.
  4. Jul 15, 2007 #3
    Thanks for the help. I keep over thinking these problems and I need to stop.

    -- Abarak

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