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Astronomers Claim Discovery of Earth-like Planet

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the that-would-be-a-rough-civ-map dept.

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.'"

6 of 225 comments (clear)

  1. Re:5x mass = 5x gravity by WED+Fan · · Score: 5, Funny

    It may be earthlike, but it sure wouldn't be a comfortable place to spend any amount of time.

    For you maybe, but anything that evolved in that environment would be really strong on this planet, be able to leap...wait, what was the name of that planet?

    Can you imagine the women, why they'd be build like a brick shi...cue the Commodores.

    --
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  2. Re:TFA by MyLongNickName · · Score: 5, Funny

    It had to go through Slashdot's rigorous peer review process before getting published.

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    See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
  3. Better not take any chances by sjonke · · Score: 5, Funny

    Invade!

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    --- What?
  4. Re:TFA by shma · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's a dupe of a 2007 article.. No wait, it's a dupe of a 2007 dupe . Someone call the Guinness Book of World Records.

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    I came here for a good argument
  5. Re:5x mass = 5x gravity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think that in planetary terms we can safely assume 5x mass will create an environment of roughly 5g ... maybe give or take 20%. Enough to ensure that the simple act of getting out of bed would be a gruelling ordeal.

    I don't know about you, but getting out of bed is a grueling ordeal at any gravity for me!

  6. Re:5x mass = 5x gravity by Red+Flayer · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's not composed of gold or other heavy metal.

    Says you.

    We don't know what it's composed of, and it *could* be solid gold. It *could be* heavy metal.

    I personally believe it's composed entirely of soft rock. Chances are very slim that it's composed of top-40 pop or country&western.

    --
    "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai