Posted on 12/15/2005 6:18:11 PM PST by KevinDavis
Astronomers have found a debris disk around a sun-like star that may be forming or has formed its terrestrial planets. The disk - a probable analog to our asteroid belt - may have begun a solar-system-scale demolition derby, where the rocky remains of failed planets collide chaotically.
"This is one of a very rare class of objects that may give us a glimpse into what our solar system may have looked like during the formation of our terrestrial planets," said Dean C. Hines of the Space Science Institute, a leader of the team that discovered the rare objects with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.
(Excerpt) Read more at uanews.org ...
I'll bet something like that fligs a lot of material off into space. Not something you really want ringside seats to watch.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration stands by doing nothing.
I know... Damn him....
related topic:
Rapid-born planets present 'baby picture' of our early solar system
EurekAlert | September 9, 2005 | Staff
Posted on 09/09/2005 9:39:51 PM PDT by DaveLoneRanger
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1481572/posts
(Spitzer) Telescope finds planet building blocks around brown space dwarfs
ap on Monterey Herald | 10/20/05
Posted on 10/20/2005 7:41:30 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1506397/posts
Asteroid Belt Discovered Around Our Sun's "Twin"
Brian Handwerk
for National Geographic News
April 21, 2005
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/04/0421_050421_spitzer.html
one more, then I'm shutting up and going to bed.
Spitzer Sees the Aftermath of a Planetary Collision
Universe Today | Jan. 10, 2005 | Dolores Beasley and Gay Yee Hill
Posted on 01/13/2005 8:50:18 PM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1320521/posts
Maybe Spitzer will sue him.
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