 |
||
| · join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · subscribe · | ||
| Google news searches: exoplanet · exosolar · extrasolar · | ||
Posted on 09/22/2009 2:11:12 PM PDT by antiobamacare
Astronomers have confirmed that a planet orbiting a distant star has a rocky structure similar to that of Earth, a find that shortens the odds on extraterrestrial life being discovered.
New observations of a planet named Corot-7b, which circles a star 500 light years away in the constellation Monoceros, or the Unicorn, have shown that its density is similar to the Earth’s, indicating that it is also a solid, rocky world.
The discovery is important for the prospects of discovering life elsewhere because Corot-7b is the first exoplanet — a planet beyond our solar system — orbiting another star that has been found to have the sort of solid structure that might harbour living things.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Smallest exoplanet is shown to be a solid, rocky world
ESA | 09/16/09
Posted on 09/16/2009 6:28:15 PM PDT by KevinDavis
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2341600/posts
First Solid Evidence for a Rocky Exoplanet
European Southern Observatory | 09/16/2009 | EOS
Posted on 09/20/2009 2:53:01 PM PDT by Dallas59
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2344350/posts
|
||
| · join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · subscribe · | ||
| Google news searches: exoplanet · exosolar · extrasolar · | ||
“radar sure comes in handy”
?
Open the Iris! Send a MALP through and take a look.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.