Youngest Planet Discovered

qazsedcft writes "BBC is reporting that Astronomers have discovered what appears to be the youngest planet, being less than 2000 years old. If this proves to be true it could challenge our models of solar system formation."

Comments

I'm not that impressed

[evolvearth]

It's about a thousand year's shy of being middle aged. After all, the earth is approximately 6000 years old.

Re:I'm not that impressed

[Otter]

I'd been thinking "For once, an astronomy story where we won't be subjected to a stream of 'But the earth is 6000 years old!' comments!"

I underestimated you guys -- it'd be like anything Google-related not having ten "Steve Balmer through another chair!" posts.

Re:I'm not that impressed

[Tesen]

In a related story, Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer threw multiple chairs after he heard of the newly discovered "young" planet. Steve was quoted as saying, "I bet freaking google has already tried to map the fucker! ".

Re:I'm not that impressed

[QRDeNameland]

All to test our faith.

"Dinosaur fossils? God put those there to test our faith."

"I think God put you here to test my faith, dude. You believe that?"

"Uh huh."

Does that trouble anyone here? The idea that God might be fuckin' with our heads? Anyone have trouble sleeping restfully with that thought in their heads? God's running around, burying fossils: "Huh huh ho. We will see who believes in me now, ha HA. I'm a prankster god. I am killing me. Ho ho ho ho."

You know, you die, you go to St. Peter, "Did you you believe in dinosaurs?"

"Well, you know, there was fossils everywhere."

"What are you, an idiot? God was FUCKING with you! Giant flying lizards? You moron! That's one of God's easiest jokes!"

"It seemed so plausible! Aieeeeeeeee!" Bound for the lake of fire. . . .

---quoth the prophet Bill Hicks

Re:I'm not that impressed

[binpajama]

Won't it be getting close to the Flood for those poor folks? Maybe we could bundle our tele-evangelists into a spaceship and send them there to spread salvation. The horrors of Earth must not be repeated elsewhere.

Magratheans

[JeepFanatic]

Maybe it's just the Magrathean's hard at work? Are there any white holes nearby for the collection of raw materials?

Re:Magratheans

[Archangel Michael]

Don't you know, Adams was a prophet! That makes the grandparent insightful! Where's your faith man??? 42 is all you need to know.

Won't somebody think of the children...

[zappepcs]

This astronomy child porn has to stop! Before you know it, these 'astronomers' will be cruising the galaxy trying to probe every new planet they find!

Re:Won't somebody think of the children...

[pshumate]

Great, now Chris Hansen's going to host "To Catch An Astronomer."

From TFA...

[SimonGhent]

According to one model, planets form from the bottom up

So that would be turtle first, then elephants, then the flat bit.

Makes sense.

(apologies for reading TFA, I'm new here)

Re:From TFA...

[Speare]

So that would be turtle first, then elephants, then the flat bit.

No, it's turtles all the way down.

only 18 years old

[whtmarker]

I think Captain Planet is the youngest planet alive. source

Re:Pass out the cigars...

[Chapter80]

When you have a baby you're supposed to hand out cigars.

Not in my town. Cigars for a boy, donuts for a girl.

Yeah, that's right, the ones with a hole in them...

Best part about young planets

[mcmonkey]

Every year you get older, they stay the same age.

It says right there in TFA:

[denzacar]

From the TFA:

Intriguingly, another young star in the same region called XZ Tau may have made a close pass of HL Tau about 1,600 years ago. Apparently, the pass XZ Tau made was more than just "close".
He was last seen fleeing through the constellation of Taurus at the speed of light in order to avoid paying alimony.
Apparently... HZ Tau is also already married.