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New 'super-Earth' found in space [planet found]
BBC News ^ | Wednesday, 25 April 2007 | BBC News

Posted on 04/25/2007 3:07:03 AM PDT by FostersExport

Astronomers have found the most Earth-like planet outside our Solar System to date, a world which could have water running on its surface. The planet orbits the faint star Gliese 581, which is 20.5 light-years away in the constellation Libra.

Scientists made the discovery using the Eso 3.6m Telescope in Chile.

They say the benign temperatures on the planet mean any water there could exist in liquid form, and this raises the chances it could also harbour life.

"We have estimated that the mean temperature of this 'super-Earth' lies between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius, and water would thus be liquid," explained Stephane Udry of the Geneva Observatory, lead author of the scientific paper reporting the result.

"Moreover, its radius should be only 1.5 times the Earth's radius, and models predict that the planet should be either rocky - like our Earth - or covered with oceans."

Xavier Delfosse, a member of the team from Grenoble University, added: "Liquid water is critical to life as we know it."

(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: astronomy; exoplanet; exoplanets; gliese581; planet; science; space; xplanet; xplanets
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

Ok, nevermind. I had the search set to Title (Score) rather than Title (Date).


21 posted on 04/25/2007 4:15:22 AM PDT by FostersExport
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To: Sybeck1

According to one of the sources (either in the related threads or another new source—have looked at a fair amount so far), the planet would be subjected to tidal forces from its primary (its star). Earth also is subjected to tidal forces from the Sun, but the tidal forces from the Moon have more effect as the Moon is closer to Earth than the Sun. In contrast, Gliese 581 c is much closer to its sun than Earth is to the Sun.


22 posted on 04/25/2007 4:19:24 AM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: FostersExport

A red sun...let’s name it Krypton


23 posted on 04/25/2007 4:20:03 AM PDT by bobjam
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To: All
or another news source.....

And the question about determining the gravitational force of a planet from its mass and a radius is an actual question--either in relation to Earth's gravitational force, or in terms of actual units independent of Earth.

24 posted on 04/25/2007 4:22:52 AM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: Big Giant Head
This is GREAT news! A perfect place for our liberals and enviros to migrate.

OH, they'll get there and realize they weigh a whole lot more. Then, imagine the weird diets they'll go on to lose weight.

Good. They can bring their own tofurkey, made with Chinese gluten.

25 posted on 04/25/2007 4:24:08 AM PDT by Gorzaloon (Global Warming: A New Kind Of Scientology for the Rest Of Us.)
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To: FostersExport
Since we have failed, God is probably starting over, since we are on the brink of Armageddon.
26 posted on 04/25/2007 4:24:54 AM PDT by corlorde (New Hampshire)
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To: FostersExport

Now if we could just figure out how to overcome the aging process, time, and space. Oh wait, I believe Jesus already did that, and when we see him, we will be like him, making all those things possible. Like sightseeing any object in the Universe, even though Earth will always eternally be home sweet home.


27 posted on 04/25/2007 4:28:53 AM PDT by HisKingdomWillAbolishSinDeath (Christ's Kingdom on Earth is the answer. What is your question?)
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To: Hardastarboard

It has a mass of five times earth already. Perhaps Rosie o’donnel is already there...


28 posted on 04/25/2007 4:35:09 AM PDT by Vanders9
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To: HisKingdomWillAbolishSinDeath

I thought that there is a New Heaven and a New Earth?


29 posted on 04/25/2007 4:40:34 AM PDT by Tuscaloosa Goldfinch (If MY people who are called by MY name -- the ball's in our court, folks.)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

The basic formula is this:

Gravity of 581 planet =(density of 581/density of Earth)* Radius of planet 581.


30 posted on 04/25/2007 4:45:20 AM PDT by BGHater (“Every little bit of good I may do, let me do it now for I may not come this way again.”)
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To: Tuscaloosa Goldfinch

Yep. This universe (that is, the planets, stars, moons and other celestial bodies) will be destroyed. The Sun also won’t exist.


31 posted on 04/25/2007 4:46:12 AM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: FostersExport

Do they have Democrats there?


32 posted on 04/25/2007 4:49:50 AM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP
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To: BGHater
Appreciated. Is that "Radius of planet 581 in comparison to Earth"--i.e. 1.5--and the planet's gravitation is also in comparison to Earth's? Otherwise, why would Earth's density factor in?
33 posted on 04/25/2007 4:51:49 AM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

The Radius is subjective to the Density of 581 and relating to the Radii of Earth.

Earth’s density is factored so we can get a ratio relating to the Gravitational factor of Earth.

For example:

Jupiter density 1.33
Earth Density 5.5
Radius of Jupiter is 11 earth radii

Jupiter= (1.33/5.5) * 11

Jupiter has 2.6 of Earth’s gravity


34 posted on 04/25/2007 5:03:07 AM PDT by BGHater (“Every little bit of good I may do, let me do it now for I may not come this way again.”)
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To: BGHater

Appreciated.


35 posted on 04/25/2007 5:04:25 AM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: Silly

Finally! Let’s get the Oscillation Overthruster working, and we can get off this rock!


36 posted on 04/25/2007 5:10:06 AM PDT by 50sDad (Angels on asteriods are abducting crop circles!)
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To: BGHater

Sorry to keep on asking these questions, but in the Jupiter scenario, why is Earth’s density 5.5 and not 1?


37 posted on 04/25/2007 5:11:32 AM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: TheRedSoxWinThePennant

Something to consider, a planet that has never had dinosaurs to create oil would be a planet without oil for nations to fight over. A fuel source would have to be used for everything would be in a different direction than we have had here on earth, it makes a person think about what our advances would be if we had no oil here? would we have gone from coal to electric? and then nuclear?
It would also affect all the byproducts made from petrochemicals.
The future of mankind will have to adapt to the fact that in the future fossil fuels WILL be gone on earth and will NOT be found on any other planet. I hope that pisses off Exxon.


38 posted on 04/25/2007 5:17:13 AM PDT by Eye of Unk
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

Because, Density is subjective to Mass and Volume.

Density=mass/volume


39 posted on 04/25/2007 5:21:36 AM PDT by BGHater (“Every little bit of good I may do, let me do it now for I may not come this way again.”)
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To: FostersExport
An interesting discovery.

Starbucks and a McDonalds soon to follow.

40 posted on 04/25/2007 5:29:28 AM PDT by BluH2o
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