Scientists spot a new Earthlike planet

[ECH1969]

Astronomers on Wednesday announced the discovery of what is possibly the smallest planet known outside our solar system orbiting a normal star.

Its orbit is farther from its host star than Earth is from the sun. Most known extrasolar planets reside inside the equivalent of Mercury’s orbit.

The planet is estimated to be about 5.5 times as massive as Earth and thought to be rocky. It orbits a red dwarf star about 28,000 light-years away. Red dwarfs are about one-fifth as massive as the sun and up to 50 times fainter. But they are among the most common stars in the universe.

So the finding suggests rocky worlds may be common. "The team has discovered the most Earthlike planet yet,” said Michael Turner, assistant director for the mathematical and physical sciences directorate at the National Science Foundation, which supported the work.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11013519/

[benburch]

1. 5.5 G is not out of the realm of possibility for life.

We need some really, really big space telescopes to look for the spectral signature of life after such discoveries.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

10. 5.5x mass does not imply 5.5x surface gravity

We'd have to know the density of the planet. If the densities were the same, surface gravity on the bigger planet would be increased by the cubic root of the mass ratio. In this case, 1.77 G.

[benburch]

13. Of course you are right.

My bad.

[longship]

15. It does say that it's a rocky planet.

The important parameters here are only mass and radius.

F = G (m1 * m2)/ r^2

Of course, all other things equal, a lower density would mean larger radius.

[troubleinwinter]

12. Build Telescopes, Not Bombs!!!

[Salviati]

14. Actually, if it is roughly the same density as Earth....

then the surface gravity would only be 1.75g because you're further away from the center of the planet. Assuming the same density, then the surface gravity will scale like the third root of the mass.

[SteppingRazor]

2. "most earthlike planet yet" ... but still far from Earthlike.

A planet 5.5 times the size of ours, with an orbit futher from its sun than ours, and that is orbiting a red dwarf will be nothing but a frozen chunk of rock.

[Igel]

4. Indeed. n/t

[400Years]

6. Yeah, and it's way too far for a vacation home

[Ezlivin]

3. Could it be the "evil" Earth where our twins all have goatees?

[BushOut06]

9. I already have a goatee - does that make me the evil one on this earth?

My poor clean-shaven twin, he's probably being tortured by those aliens.

[BushOut06]

5. And suddenly NASA funding goes through the roof...

...as Bush becomes determined to find out whether these new "Earthlike" planets possess WMDs. Right behind them is Pat Robertson and the 700 Club, determined to build a spaceship to bring the Gospel of Christ to these poor damned aliens. (Hey, that last one was actually a South Park episode!)

[Vinnie From Indy]

7. What a shock it will be when they find an earth like planet in their

telescopes and see a huge sign that reads "Bush Lied".

[Betty]

8. does it have oil

and non existent weapons of mass destruction, and if so, can we invade?

[jsamuel]

11. we will struggle over the next 1000 years to get there so we can have duel

s to the death with suspense music playing in the background...

[applegrove]

16. Great. Send the neocons there.