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Astronomers Announce 5-Planet System

Posted by kdawson on from the looking-for-something-rockier dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Astronomers have detected a record-breaking 5th planet orbiting the star 55 Cancri, 41 light years distant. This planet orbits within the 'habitable zone,' where water could presumably exist, but it's probably another gas giant like Saturn, so any liquid water would have to be on a moon. There's still a big gap between this planet and the outermost planet where no planets have been detected yet, so there could yet be a rocky planet in the system. The lead researcher said he's optimistic that 'continued observations will reveal a rocky planet within five years.'"

11 of 145 comments (clear)

  1. MORE cuts!?!? by Nerdposeur · · Score: 5, Funny

    When I first saw this headline, I gasped. They already eliminated Pluto - what ELSE could they disqualify!?

    1. Re:MORE cuts!?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      When I first saw this headline, I gasped. They already eliminated Pluto - what ELSE could they disqualify!? Well it turns out that Neptune was just a smudge on the lens, Mercury was just a big piece of garbage and Jupiter was just Rosie O'Donnell's long-lost sister.
  2. More news by Skiron · · Score: 4, Funny

    "The lead researcher said he's optimistic that 'continued observations will reveal a rocky planet within five years.'" Sylvester Stallone commented on this breaking news; "Eh?"

  3. What record? by teh+moges · · Score: 2, Funny

    Our solar system has more then that...

  4. Ewoks live on a moon by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 2, Funny

    This planet orbits within the 'habitable zone,' where water could presumably exist, but it's probably another gas giant like Saturn, so any liquid water would have to be on a moon. Any chance they plan to name this planet Endor?
    --
    Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  5. Think positively by imsabbel · · Score: 4, Funny

    At least after we send our greeting, it will take 2 or 3 generations for the extermination fleet to arrive....

    --
    HI O WISE PRINCE. WHT TOOK U SO DAM LONG?
    1. Re:Think positively by ashitaka · · Score: 2, Funny

      The current generation always dumps their problems on the following generations.

      --
      If you don't want to repeat the past, stop living in it.
    2. Re:Think positively by uniquename72 · · Score: 1, Funny

      Not if we send our greeting in the form of an extermination fleet.

  6. A perfect spot for a rebel base! by primenerd · · Score: 2, Funny

    A gas giant with habitable moons. Only 41 LY away, it can't be as remote as Dantooine.

    --
    AUGAUUUGCGCACAUAUCUCAGCGAAUGAAAGGGAUUAA
    1. Re:A perfect spot for a rebel base! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Fortunately, we're already conducting an exhaustive search of the surrounding systems.

  7. Re:Starting to sound like flying cars.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The discovery of an earth-like rocky planet is always five years off.

    However, at least we stand a good chance of being alive when the discovery is made. (Madly knocking wood)

    Whoa. Only a true uber-geek could masturbate to astronomy news.

    - T