[petuniasevan]

Here's that "discovery image" which shows what the Submillimeter Common User Bolometer Array detected.

Astronomy Fun Fact:

Fomalhaut is easy to find! No other bright star is nearby. It's in the southern sky in autumn. Though white it may appear yellowish due to low viewing angle. It's visible between latitudes 50 and -90 degrees and is best seen in October (at 9:00 PM). Look southeast.

[petuniasevan]

Sorry I'm so late getting today's APOD out. Lots of other things had to be done.

[fnord]

weekend bump

I always appreciate the APOD post, even if I don't always comment on it. Thanks ...

[RightWhale]

This one was a topic on Art Bell last night. They were quoting some astronomers as saying that this discovery indicates the possibility of earth-like planets at other stars. I think it's a stretch, an extrapolation of the data. There have been about 100 extrasolar planets found so far, but all these are at the limits of detection. An instrument capable of finding earthlike planets is being built by NASA and should be in position in space to make its observations by 2010 or so. Until then, planet detection is by indirect means, relying on interpretation of limited data according to various models.