Light from Faraway Planet Directly Detected

space.com ^ | 01/13/10

[KevinDavis]

For the first time, astronomers have directly detected the light signature of a planet orbiting an almost sun-like star. This signature can tell scientists the chemical makeup of the planet, which can help them understand how it formed. in the future these signatures could be used to look for signs of life on other planets.

The planet is a giant, about 10 times as massive as Jupiter, and it orbits between two other giants around a star similar to our sun in a scaled-up version of our own solar system.

[KevinDavis]

I guess it is a matter of time till we find you know what ;)

[KevinDavis]

For other space news go to: http://www.spacetoday.net
For a list of Private Space Companies: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_private_spaceflight_companies

[UCANSEE2]

I guess it is a matter of time till we find you know what

Chocolate at the center of the Milky Way?

[OldDeckHand]

"I guess it is a matter of time till we find you know what ;) "

An actual conservative Democrat?

[GeronL]

It could have moons that are inhabitable, you never know.

[GeronL]

nuts!

[cripplecreek]

The three giant companions were detected in 2008 and range in mass from seven to 10 times that of Jupiter, with orbits between 20 and 70 times as far from their host star as Earth is from the sun. The system also features two belts of smaller objects, similar to the asteroid and Kuiper belts around our sun. The system's star is about 1.5 times as massive as the sun.

A little on the cool side for us I suppose.

[TheVitaminPress]

Fantastic!

[Regulator]

Or um...they find us

[onedoug]

It’s a “fair” possibility that there is at least extraterrestrial microbial life in this solar system which we have yet to detect despite our best efforts. But just add a few tens or hundreds of light years and it’s a cinch, right?

[bravo whiskey]

maybe it’s pandora and all the whack jobs who saw the movie and now are depressed can go there.

[Talisker]

I guess it is a matter of time till we find you know what ;)

Oh, I think "we've" long found it. Now it's just a matter of making the "discovery" seem "reasonable."

[MAexile]

Excellent! When can we start exploiting it’s natural resources?

[mikrofon]

it orbits between two other giants around a star similar to our sun in a scaled-up version of our own solar system

Only the rich and elites will be able to live there, being in an upscale neighborhood...

[LiberConservative]

This is awesome and incredible news. We don't have the budgets to send manned expeditions or even robotic probes to look for life outside our solar system. But with our optics we can be cosmic “voyeurs”. Our first tangible discovery will be when we can detect a planet containing chlorophyll.

[omega4179]

I’d like a planet with curvy blue women

[KevinDavis]

In the meantime, we should develop FTL, artificial gravity, inertial dampeners and so on until we find a planet good for us.. I still think we find a Earth like planet in 2020..

[cripplecreek]

The discovery of exoplanets seems to have spurred development of better and better telescopes.

[Venturer]

This is going to make a great difference in my life because........

[SaraJohnson]

Better yet - all us evil whiteys can invade the Pandora Eden and steal their minerals!/s/