Astronomers apparently found a large asteroid belt around the star VEGA is the second brightness in the Northern part of the night sky. The appropriate conclusion is made on the basis of the data space telescopes "Spitzer" and "Herschel".

Comparison of the system of VEGA (left) with Sun (right it is presented in a fourfold increase, below - on the same scale as the VEGA system).

Thus the system of VEGA is similar to that of Fomalhaut: both lights have internal warm and external cold zones. Reminds belt of asteroids and Kuiper belt of our Solar system, isn't it?

What the gap between warm and cold zones VEGA and Fomalhaut? Observations heavily favor of many planets. We also have the asteroid belt is supported by the gravitational confrontation between the planets of terrestrial group and giants. Last fashioned and the Kuiper belt.

This confirms the hypothesis about wide distribution systems with a large number of planets, emphasizes co-author Kate su of the Steward Observatory of the University of Arizona (USA).

VEGA and Fomalhaut similar not only for this. Both stars is approximately twice more massive than the Sun, they are hot and blue. In addition, there are relatively nearby, about 25 light years from Earth. They are about 400 million years (according to some estimates, VEGA older: it may soon hit 600 million years). Fomalhaut discovered so far the only candidate in the planet - Fomalhaut b, rotating from the inside comet belts.

"Herschel" and "Spitzer" registered infrared warm and cold dust collected in two discrete zones around VEGA and Fomalhaut, not only discovered the asteroid belt around VEGA, but confirming the data of the previous observations. In the visible part of the spectrum to see them impossible because of the bright light of the stars.

Belt contains much more material than their counterparts from the Solar system, as VEGA and Fomalhaut younger. In addition, they, most likely, was formed from a more massive clouds of gas and dust.

The interval between the inner and outer belts our neighbors proportionally corresponds to the distance between the belt of asteroids and Kuiper belt in the Solar system: the outer about 10 times further from its star than the internal. Apparently, in this period there are several planets the size of Jupiter or less. You can draw an analogy with the system of the star HR 8799, which is known for four planets clearing the area between similar zones.

The authors believe that not yet discovered the planet will not remain unnoticed space telescope "James Webb, the launch of which is scheduled for 2015.

The research results presented at the meeting of the American astronomical society, and accepted for publication edition of the Astrophysical Journal.

Based on the materials of the jet propulsion Laboratory of NASA.