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Exoplanet Has Showers of Pebbles

mmmscience writes "The newly-discovered exoplanet COROT-7b has an unusual form of precipitation: rocks. Because it orbits so close to its sun, the temperature on its sun-facing side is around 4220 degrees Fahrenheit. That's hot enough for rocks to vaporize — not unlike water evaporating on Earth. And, like Earth, when the vapor cools in the upper atmosphere, it forms clouds and begins to rain. But instead of water, COROT-7b gets a shower of pebbles."

35 of 341 comments (clear)

  1. Wow by clone53421 · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's pretty cool, in a geeky sort of way.

    I wish I could see it... but I don't think the environment would be terribly friendly to my sensitive skin.

    --
    Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    1. Re:Wow by geoffrobinson · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah, I'm part Irish too. I can't stand being in the Sun/insert favorite star here.

      --
      Except for ending slavery, the Nazis, communism, & securing American independence, war has never solved anything.
    2. Re:Wow by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 2, Funny

      That's pretty cool, in a geeky sort of way.

      I wish I could see it... but I don't think the environment would be terribly friendly to my sensitive skin.

      Break out the SPF 15000000 and put it on with a trowel.

      --
      You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
    3. Re:Wow by Reaperducer · · Score: 4, Funny

      Ironic?

      No, Ms. Morissette. Just coincidental.

      --
      -- I'm old enough to have lived through six different meanings of the word "hacker."
    4. Re:Wow by nacturation · · Score: 2, Funny

      Anyone not wearing one million sunblock is going to have a real bad day, get it?

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    5. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      ok....

      Gasmask... CHECK!
      Safety Goggles.... CHECK!
      FTL Drive.... Oh Dang.

  2. Not unusual by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    We get solid precipitation here on earth all the time.

    Sometimes it's hail, sometimes sleet.

    The best is frogs, though.

    1. Re:Not unusual by Cruciform · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm just glad it doesn't rain horses.

  3. Re:Related to the current poll ? by eln · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thanks for the conversion...I never know what to wear when they give the temperature in Fahrenheit. Thanks to your post, though, I now know I won't need to pack a jacket while visiting this planet.

  4. Why were you late for school? by tomhudson · · Score: 4, Funny

    Teacher: Why are you late?
    Student 1: I was throwing pebbles in the pond.
    Teacher: (to student #2) Why are you late?
    Student 2: I was throwing pebbles in the pond.
    Teacher: (to student #3) Let me guess - you were throwing pebbles in the pond too?
    Student 3: I'm Pebbles.

    1. Re:Why were you late for school? by jlintern · · Score: 2, Funny

      Teacher: Why are you late? Student 1: I was on top of Cherry Hill. Teacher: (to student #2) Why are you late? Student 2: I was on top of Cherry Hill. Teacher: (to student #3) Let me guess - you were on Cherry Hill too? Student 3: I'm Cherry.

    2. Re:Why were you late for school? by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Funny

      So Pebbles got BamBammed?

  5. 50% chance of rocking out! by Chris+Burke · · Score: 5, Funny

    It is nearly impossible to imagine a deluge of pebbles falling from the sky, or turning on the morning forecast to hear reports of "rocking" instead of "raining."

    Oh I can imagine it. You see dark clouds roll in, crowding around. In the distance but growing louder, the rapid heavy percussion of the rock shower begins. Then in the cloud at the front, you see a flash of light and a shower of sparks like a pyrotechnic burst. Seconds later, instead of a crash of thunder, you hear the wail of an electric guitar.

    It is now rocking. Rocking hard core.

    This is the awesomest planet ever.

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
    1. Re:50% chance of rocking out! by snoig · · Score: 2, Funny

      Must be a Hotblack Desiato concert.

  6. Re:Do we send the religious fundamentalists there? by clone53421 · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, they wouldn't be able to stand the constant rock music drumming on the roof.

    --
    Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
  7. Obligatory S*P reference by emurphy42 · · Score: 4, Funny

    ROCKS FALL! EVERYONE DIES!

  8. Re:Summary inaccurate by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah. "Pebbles" is probably inaccurate. I find it hard to believe the hypothesis that there are storms on this planet where redheaded female pre-historic babies with pony tails fall out of the sky.

  9. Re:The sky is falling? by LanMan04 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The sky is falling?

    More like the ground is falling...from the sky.

    --
    With the first link, the chain is forged.
  10. Re:Related to the current poll ? by JohnHegarty · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or 2599 kelvin

    Or the heat from burning 2 library's on congress.

    Anyone know what it is in elephants ?

  11. Re:Related to the current poll ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Anyone know what it is in elephants ?"

    African or Indian?

  12. Re:The sky is falling? by Yvan256 · · Score: 4, Funny

    So it's like Australia?

  13. Re:Related to the current poll ? by Yvan256 · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's 5418 libraries of congress.

  14. Re:Related to the current poll ? by Thanshin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Or the heat from burning 2 library's on congress.

    Do libraries burn differently on congress than anywhere else?

  15. Re:first by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    bite it noobs

    forgot to check the AC box? noob!

  16. Re:Related to the current poll ? by JustOK · · Score: 4, Funny

    Thanks,and stop calling me Kelvin

    --
    rewriting history since 2109
  17. I'm Singing in the OW! OW! by wiredog · · Score: 5, Funny

    ow!

  18. geologist's hot dating destination? by polishphorce · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...and if you like pina coladas and getting bludgeoned in the rain...

  19. Re:Titinians say the same thing about Earth by captainClassLoader · · Score: 4, Funny

    Of course! Everything is made of Uranium on uranus, of Plutonium on Pluto, and Titanium on Titan. And Hafnium on the planet Haf, but that hasn't been discovered yet.

    --
    "The plural of anecdote is not data" -- Bruce Schneier
  20. Re:Related to the current poll ? by gsslay · · Score: 4, Funny

    I now know I won't need to pack a jacket while visiting this planet.

    Please yourself. But I'll be taking my tungsten jacket (melting point 3422 Celcius, 6192 Fahrenheit).

    You know, the one my grandmother bought me..... with the hood and the double pleated asbestos lining? I don't care if you've never liked it and it doesn't match my shoes, I'm wearing it.

  21. Re:Related to the current poll ? by clone53421 · · Score: 4, Funny

    So 4220 degrees Fahrenheit is approximately 2600 degree Kelvin. Fixed it for you.
    is approximately 2600 degree Kelvin
    degree Kelvin

    Fail. Hand in your geek card.

    --
    Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
  22. Re:Related to the current poll ? by Kjella · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yep, there's so much hot air there they burn way better.

    --
    Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
  23. Re:Meanwhile on COROT-7b by iprefermuffins · · Score: 5, Funny

    t of life

    Here, you dropped this.

  24. Re:The sky is falling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    What! No Meatballs?!

  25. Re:Related to the current poll ? by camperdave · · Score: 2, Funny

    x=x-273.15 ?
    DOES NOT COMPUTE.


    Not a programmer, are you?

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  26. Re:Related to the current poll ? by Trogre · · Score: 3, Funny

    Shirley you can't be Sirius?

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife