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Spitzer Telescope Discovers Planets Via Infrared

Posted by Zonk on from the earth-like-planet-in-my-sites dept.

DirtyJ writes "Astronomers using the Spitzer Space Telescope have for the first time discovered two extrasoloar planets by directly detecting light from the planets themselves. Usually planets are discovered by indirectly inferring their presence from the wobble of star they orbit, but Spitzer has been able to directly detect these objects at Infrared wavelengths. Nifty conceptual images and videos are available."

2 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. Pschaw! by LokieLizzy · · Score: 1, Troll
    Anyone can discover (or "observe") a planet. Call me when we discover (or "observe") some intelligence on one.

    On second thought, maybe we should start with planet Earth.

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    My digital rights don't need management.
    1. Re:Pschaw! by LokieLizzy · · Score: 0, Troll

      Go ahead. Mod me as a troll. It was just a joke. I don't understand how someone can make nothing but ad-hominem Apple-friendly/Microsoft-bashing posts on /. and get consistently modded "informative" or "interesting", but if someone tries to inject a little humor into a discussion, they're more often than not castigated as a creature that dwells beneath bridges.

      --
      My digital rights don't need management.