Planet Found in Double Star System

Daniel Dvorkin writes "CNN is reporting that a planet has been found in a double star system. I know, another extrasolar planet -- whoopee! But this one is different since it is in a double star system, and because given the size of the stars (the larger one is about 1.6 times as big as the Sun), the orbit (a little bigger than that of Mars), and the planet (somewhat bigger than Jupiter) it seems very possible that the planet might have a moon of roughly Earth's size and climate. I believe this is the first discovery that comes close to matching those criteria."

Comments

Other habitable zone planets?

[Jason T. Wright]

it seems very possible that the planet might have a moon of roughly Earth's size and climate. I believe this is the first discovery that comes close to matching those criteria."

You believe wrongly.

HD28185 b and IotaHor b both could support moons with liquid water, year-round.

HD27442 b (aka Epsilon Reticulum) could also do it.

Other planets visit their star's habitable zones, too. Even though most of these other planets have eccentric orbits which would take them in and out periodically, they still "come close to matching those criteria".

Also a much better link to details of the Gamma Cephei system can be found here.