Astronomers find batch of "Super-Earths"

[Punisher]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - European researchers said on Monday they discovered a batch of three "super-Earths" orbiting a nearby star, and two other solar systems with small planets as well.


They said their findings, presented at a conference in France, suggest that Earth-like planets may be very common.

"Does every single star harbor planets and, if yes, how many?" asked Michel Mayor of Switzerland's Geneva Observatory. "We may not yet know the answer but we are making huge progress towards it," Mayor said in a statement.

The trio of planets orbit a star slightly less massive than our Sun, 42 light-years away towards the southern Doradus and Pictor constellations. A light-year is the distance light can travel in one year at a speed of 186,000 miles a second, or about 6 trillion miles.

The planets are bigger than Earth -- one is 4.2 times the mass, one is 6.7 times and the third is 9.4 times.

They orbit their star at extremely rapid speeds -- one whizzing around in just four days, compared with Earth's 365 days, one taking 10 days and the slowest taking 20 days.

Mayor and colleagues used the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher or HARPS, a telescope at La Silla observatory in Chile, to find the planets.

More than 270 so-called exoplanets have been found. Most are giants, resembling Jupiter or Saturn. Smaller planets closer to the size of Earth are far more difficult to spot.

None can be imaged directly at such distances but can be spotted indirectly using radio waves or, in the case of HARPS, spectrographic measurements. As a planet orbits, it makes the star wobble very slightly and this can be measured.

"With the advent of much more precise instruments such as the HARPS spectrograph ... we can now discover smaller planets, with masses between 2 and 10 times the Earth's mass," said Stephane Udry, who also worked on the study.

The team also said they found a planet 7.5 times the mass of Earth orbiting the star HD 181433 in 9.5 days. This star also has a Jupiter-like planet that orbits every three years.

Another solar system has a planet 22 times the mass of Earth, orbiting every four days, and a Saturn-like planet with a 3-year period.

"Clearly these planets are only the tip of the iceberg," said Mayor.

"The analysis of all the stars studied with HARPS shows that about one third of all solar-like stars have either super-Earth or Neptune-like planets with orbital periods shorter than 50 days."

(Reporting by Maggie Fox; Editing by John O'Callaghan)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080616/...ace_planets_dc

[Kaylore]

How are they "earths" exactly? They sound too big and too close to support life.

[Houshyamama]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

How are they "earths" exactly? They sound too big and too close to support life.

hmmmm, that is a long discussion dude. "Life" may take many forms. If you are using a carbon-based organization of molecules as the definition of life, there may be no other life forms in the universe. But is there intelligence out there? I think so.

[Punisher]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

How are they "earths" exactly? They sound too big and too close to support life.

If they can support life i wonder what kind of things live there...

[Punisher]

Picture of the "Super-Earths"

[DBroncos4life]

Originally Posted by Punisher

If they can support life i wonder what kind of things live there...

We should find out and see if whatever lives there can kill us all.

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by DBroncos4life

We should find out and see if whatever lives there can kill us all.

or even better if we can kill it.

[kappys]

Let just launch missles at the planet in a preemptive strike

[24champ]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

or even better if we can kill it.

Better yet...How will Obama use diplomacy on them?

Thats the key issue for me in this Election...improving Alien relations.

[elsid13]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

or even better if we can kill it.

what if they have the hot green three breasted women Would you kill that?

[Rausch 2.0]

Originally Posted by elsid13

what if they have the hot green three breasted women Would you kill that?

Will they do girl on girl?

If so I say live and let live...

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Punisher

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - European researchers said on Monday they discovered a batch of three "super-Earths" orbiting a nearby star, and two other solar systems with small planets as well.


They said their findings, presented at a conference in France, suggest that Earth-like planets may be very common.

"Does every single star harbor planets and, if yes, how many?" asked Michel Mayor of Switzerland's Geneva Observatory. "We may not yet know the answer but we are making huge progress towards it," Mayor said in a statement.

The trio of planets orbit a star slightly less massive than our Sun, 42 light-years away towards the southern Doradus and Pictor constellations. A light-year is the distance light can travel in one year at a speed of 186,000 miles a second, or about 6 trillion miles.

The planets are bigger than Earth -- one is 4.2 times the mass, one is 6.7 times and the third is 9.4 times.

They orbit their star at extremely rapid speeds -- one whizzing around in just four days, compared with Earth's 365 days, one taking 10 days and the slowest taking 20 days.

Mayor and colleagues used the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher or HARPS, a telescope at La Silla observatory in Chile, to find the planets.

More than 270 so-called exoplanets have been found. Most are giants, resembling Jupiter or Saturn. Smaller planets closer to the size of Earth are far more difficult to spot.

None can be imaged directly at such distances but can be spotted indirectly using radio waves or, in the case of HARPS, spectrographic measurements. As a planet orbits, it makes the star wobble very slightly and this can be measured.

"With the advent of much more precise instruments such as the HARPS spectrograph ... we can now discover smaller planets, with masses between 2 and 10 times the Earth's mass," said Stephane Udry, who also worked on the study.

The team also said they found a planet 7.5 times the mass of Earth orbiting the star HD 181433 in 9.5 days. This star also has a Jupiter-like planet that orbits every three years.

Another solar system has a planet 22 times the mass of Earth, orbiting every four days, and a Saturn-like planet with a 3-year period.

"Clearly these planets are only the tip of the iceberg," said Mayor.

"The analysis of all the stars studied with HARPS shows that about one third of all solar-like stars have either super-Earth or Neptune-like planets with orbital periods shorter than 50 days."

(Reporting by Maggie Fox; Editing by John O'Callaghan)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080616/...ace_planets_dc

This and $.75 will get you a cup of coffee.

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by 24champbailey

....Thats the key issue for me in this Election...improving Alien relations.

He's already been to California......

[Rausch 2.0]

Originally Posted by Atlas

This and $.75 will get you a cup of coffee.

It's clear to anyone with a basic understanding of statistics that life is out there, somewhere.

Now, that doesn't mean I jump on the anal-probe-Brazil-munchkin train, only that life is common when considering the numbers and the vast systems.

That DOES NOT mean I think that space mantises are trying to spot the bronco's final score through some locals' window...

[FISH]

Originally Posted by Punisher

If they can support life i wonder what kind of things live there...

...and equally as important....do they play football?

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by Rausch 2.0

It's clear to anyone with a basic understanding of statistics that life is out there, somewhere.

Now, that doesn't mean I jump on the anal-probe-Brazil-munchkin train, only that life is common when considering the numbers and the vast systems.

That DOES NOT mean I think that space mantises are trying to spot the bronco's final score through some locals' window...

Well they're not Chief or Royals fans.

[TheReverend]

Goodell is already trying to branch out revenue streams by playing a game on one of these planets.

He's sending the Chiefs and the Dolphins

[TheReverend]

Naturally, this will take so long that it just seems more like a smart idea to get rid of the Chiefs and Dolphins...

[Kaylore]

Let's also send Britney Spears, all tapes of One Tree Hill, the cast of The Hills, and any and all Crocs footwear.

[Los Broncos]

Thats it, I'm moving!

[Los Broncos]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Let's also send Britney Spears, all tapes of One Tree Hill, the cast of The Hills, and any and all Crocs footwear.

[Rock Chalk]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

How are they "earths" exactly? They sound too big and too close to support life.

Terrestrial planets. Not gas giants.

Large terrestrial planets, but rocky nonetheless. Hence the term "Super Earth's". Easier than saying Extra-Large Terrestrial Planets. Most planets found have been the size of Jupiter or larger so them finding a bunch of "smaller" rocky worlds is a very big deal.

[Taco John]

I've seen this before. One one of those planets is a man eating super insect just dying to evolve into a humanoid killer.

Bury the gate.

[vancejohnson82]

I think we've found Dan Wilkinson.....finally

[DukeWoody]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Let's also send Britney Spears, all tapes of One Tree Hill, the cast of The Hills, and any and all Crocs footwear.

O.K., i'll get on board with this lets send so and so...I say we send javon aswell...i mean someone has to be the official champagne sprayer for the landing...