The animation begins looking at the star Upsilon Andromedae from above. The orbits of two planets (c and d) are visible. As we zoom straight down to the star, the orbit of another, closer-in planet (b) appears. Next, we swoop down into the planetary system to view it from the inside. We see the innermost planet (b, red). We can see the orbits of three planets all at once — and some appear to be lying at strange angles. Then we start to pull away from the star, looking back. We see planet c (gray) flash by. Next, we see that the orbits of the second and third planets, c and d, are inclined to one another by 30 degrees. Then planet d (light blue) flashes by. We pull far back from the star, and see the complete orbits of c and d, one within the other, and their mutual inclination. Finally, we pull away from the primary star and its planets, and end on its binary companion, the red dwarf Upsilon Andromedae B.
Notes: The inclinations of the orbits of c and d are shown accurately. The actual inclination of the innermost planet's (b's) orbit is not known; the orbit shown is for reference only. The newly discovered, outermost planet (e) is not shown in the animation at all, as its orbit is not known.
Credit: McDonald Observatory/Univ. of Texas-Austin
