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Kepler Discovers Solar System's Ancient 'Twin'

Posted by Soulskill on from the not-quite-sol-o dept.

astroengine writes: Astronomers have found a star system that bears a striking resemblance to our inner solar system. It's a sun-like star that plays host to a system of five small exoplanets — from the size of Mercury to the size of Venus. But there's something very alien about this compact 'solar system'; it formed when the universe was only 20 percent the age it is now, making it the most ancient star system playing host to terrestrial sized worlds discovered to date.

7 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. Um... by sootman · · Score: 4, Funny

    The only problem with naming satellites after early astronomers is that when I read the headline, there is a moment where I think "wait -- isn't he dead?"

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    1. Re:Um... by Penguinisto · · Score: 4, Funny

      ...could be worse; the kids could be asking "Who's this Hubble guy and where did he get that badass camera?"

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  2. How are they rocky? by cusco · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I thought that it took multiple generations of supernovas to produce enough heavy elements to accumulate into a rocky planet.

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    1. Re:How are they rocky? by doug · · Score: 4, Insightful

      In the early universe, things were closer together (less time for expansion), and there were more large, hot stars. A stellar generation would have been faster than it is now. That said, it does sound a bit zippy.

    2. Re:How are they rocky? by Solandri · · Score: 4, Informative

      Depends on the composition of your "rocky" planet. Fusion reagents are energy-positive up to iron. So basically, elements heavier than iron requires multiple supernovae to generate a substantial quantity. Elements lighter than iron can be released in just 1-2 supernovae.

      The elements which make up most of the "rock" on our rocky planet are oxygen, silicon, calcium, iron, potassium, aluminum, and sodium. Of these, oxygen, silicon, and iron are a regular product of stellar fusion, and can be distributed from a single supernova.

  3. Last Season of Star Trek by painandgreed · · Score: 3, Funny

    Cue the Star Trek music as the Enterprise begins to circle yet another duplicate of the planet Earth. Spock turns to the Captain and says "It seems an exact duplicate of the Sol system, but formed billions of years earlier. Before even the creation of your solar system Captain. Most interesting."

  4. Crazy! by nightfire-unique · · Score: 3, Funny

    I thought he died years ago!

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