“Planets around other stars are like peas in a pod”
Does this mean ALL planets, or SOME planets? Since it doesn’t say, it is a useless headline.
Seriously, now. Astronomers haven’t observed even a small fraction of all the stars that have planets. Drawing this conclusion is not warranted.
Agreed.
Seems like we can only detect large planetary objects right now — question: is our technology capable of detecting a solar system like ours? That would include smaller objects like Venus, etc. and the Earth.
Well - depending on what the hypothesis stated they may have been able to select a sample that would be sufficient to predict.
It could still be invalidated with a larger sample, but my guess is they stated their prediction and then sampled a large set to see if that prediction held.
Perfectly reasonable from a scientific point of view.
I think most likely what they are stated in their thesis is that the ‘majority’ are like this since we already know our solar system is not. The further study they mention is to see if systems with both large/small planets exhibit the same pattern ours does. I’m guessing where this is leading is trying to prove that there was a disruption in our system that led to the astroid belt, earth-moon separation, and elusive phantom planet in odd orbit that is continually being discussed.
I would have to agree with you that they are leaping to conclusions a bit early in the game.
Of course when the only system we had to study was our own they leaped to conclusions there too so they are experienced leapers. :)