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Astronomers Claim Discovery of Earth-like Planet
Raver32 writes "A team of astronomers announced they have discovered the smallest and potentially most Earth-like extrasolar planet yet. Five times as massive as Earth, it orbits a relatively cool star at a distance that would provide earthly temperatures as well, signaling the possibility of liquid water. 'The separation between the planet and its star is just right for having liquid water at its surface,' says astronomer and team spokesperson Stephane Udry of the Observatory of Geneva in Versoix, Switzerland. 'That's why we are a bit excited.' But researchers do not yet know if the planet contains water, if it is truly rocky like Earth, which might make it hospitable to life as we know it, or whether it is blanketed by a thick atmosphere. 'What we have,' Udry says, 'is the minimum mass of the planet and its separation" from its star.'"
Mod parent down if you like packing fudge. Lol!
That's only if the radius from the centre of the objects is the same. Remember, gravity decreases as a function of the square of the distance.
Isn't the case, that, at least while you are on the planet, the math works out such that the gravity is consistent at whatever point you are on. If you modelled the earth as a bunch of tiny cubes, each with their own gravitational field, then, the resolution of the sum of all of those vectors is going to be pulling you to the center of the planet.
It's only once you start getting into space does the gravitational attraction begin to fall away.
This is my sig.
Awesome, now I'm modded troll as well...hooray Slashdot!
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