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Ohio State Researchers Discover Two Planets in Solar System

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What do you need water for, Sunshine?
Washington Post: [tOSU] Researchers Discover Two Planets in Solar System


good stuff... hats off!

Researchers Discover Two Planets in Solar System

[SIZE=-1]By Marc Kaufman[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Washington Post Staff Writer[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Thursday, February 14, 2008; 2:45 PM[/SIZE]


Researchers have discovered two planets in a solar system 5,000 light-years away that appears to be structured in some important ways like our own.

The planets are gas giants similar to but smaller than Jupiter and Saturn, and their relative sizes are also similar. In addition, they circle their star at a distance proportional to the distances of Jupiter and Saturn from the sun.

"This is the first time we've found a Jupiter-like planet in the same system as a Saturn planet," said Scott Gaudi of Ohio State University, lead investigator on the project. "There's reason now to believe there are probably many more solar systems like it."

The discovery, published today in the online edition of the journal Science, lends support to the long-held belief of many astronomers that there are many planets orbiting their stars in ways similar to our solar system. Most of the more than 260 planets discovered so far have orbited their suns far more closely than theorized, and the planets have been larger than expected.

cont'd...
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BB73;1092351; said:
I'm sure they'll be looking very closely for smaller planets closer in orbit to that star.
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sure thing, but i think the real significance of this discovery is that there are solar systems similar to ours in that they can host multiple planets similar to the ones in our solar system.

wouldn't be surprised if there's somebody from the "STEPSS" team here on BP... on their website, they say the aim of their project is:

Our goal is to assess the frequency of close-in extrasolar planets
around main-sequence stars in several open clusters. By concentrating
on main-sequence stars in open clusters of known (and varied) age,
metallicity, and stellar density, we will be able to gain insight
into how thse various properties affect planet formation, migration,
and survival.
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ORD_Buckeye;1092403; said:
Which of course brings up the inevitable question of, "why is Jesus tricking us into believing that there are other planets?" Is it a test of faith?
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:paranoid:

trapvs5.jpg
 
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leroyjenkins;1092535; said:
I dont think thats too great of a feat. Hell I know of one planet, that hasnt been discovered...................
Somehow it fits on the home side of Notre Dame stadium!:biggrin:
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Somewhere a conversation occurs on Notre Dame's campus.

Nerdy Stoned Freshmen: You mean you're telling me that an entire universe could exist in one tiny strand of Jimmy Clausen's spiked hair.

Stoned Cool Prof: Yes, then...

Nerdy Stoned Freshmen: Our entire universe could be in one tiny strand of spiked hair on a gigantic overrated quarterback.

Stoned Cool Prof: Exactly

Nerdy Stoned Freshmen: Can I buy some pot from you?

No wait...scratch the above...domers aren't that cool.
 
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