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Alien Solar System Looks Strikingly Like Ours
Space.com ^ | 08/27/2010 | Space.com

Posted on 08/27/2010 7:23:51 PM PDT by The Magical Mischief Tour

Astronomers have discovered a group of at least five planets – with hints of two more – circling around a star in an arrangement similar to our own solar system. Confirmation of the extra planets would make this the highest tally of alien worlds ever spotted around a single star.

The planets and their own sun-like star are about 127 light-years from Earth, astronomers with the European Southern Observatory said. It is one of just 15 planetary systems known to have more than three worlds.

The five planets circle their parent star, HD 10180, in a regular pattern like the planets of our solar system, only in a more compact arrangement, the researchers said.

Of the two potential additional planets that may be present, one may have a mass that is the closest to the Earth's yet seen, if it is confirmed, they added. [The Strangest Alien Planets]

"We have found what is most likely the system with the most planets yet discovered," astronomer Christophe Lovis, lead author of the study, said in a statement Tuesday. "This remarkable discovery also highlights the fact that we are now entering a new era in exoplanet research: the study of complex planetary systems and not just of individual planets.

(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: hd10180; xplanets
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To: dragnet2

61 posted on 08/29/2010 6:50:15 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This post is not a statement of fact. It is merely a personal opinion -- or humor -- or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

The brownish gray sky at sunset as it would be seen by an observer on Mars - true color mosaic taken by Mars Pathfinder on sol 24 (June 22, 1996) The sky near the sun is a pale blue color. (NASA/JPL)

62 posted on 08/29/2010 7:22:54 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: BenLurkin

Several dust devils cross a plain in this animation of a series of images acquired by NASA's Mars Rover Spirit in May, 2005. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/USGS)

63 posted on 08/29/2010 7:24:52 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: cripplecreek

Maybe some ice fishing on Europa :)


64 posted on 08/29/2010 8:02:48 PM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (1.416785(71) x 10^32 You are receiving this broadcast as a dream.)
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To: KevinDavis

Thanks for the ping.


65 posted on 08/29/2010 8:21:14 PM PDT by GOPJ (TIME Magazine - - a conserve-a-phobe publication.)
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To: dragnet2

Wow, incredible picture, thanks for posting. I hadn’t seen that one before.


66 posted on 08/29/2010 8:29:05 PM PDT by Future Snake Eater ("Get out of the boat and walk on the water with us!”--Sen. Joe Biden)
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To: dragnet2

Of course. How rude of me.

Both pictures were from ASTRONOMY PICTURE OF THE DAY ARCHIVE.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html


67 posted on 08/29/2010 8:30:27 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill informed post.)
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To: dragnet2

Amazing stuff.


68 posted on 08/29/2010 8:36:05 PM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (1.416785(71) x 10^32 You are receiving this broadcast as a dream.)
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To: Future Snake Eater

Indeed...Very incredible...


69 posted on 08/29/2010 9:08:52 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: UCANSEE2

Your link linked to several hundred other links.....Thanks anyway.


70 posted on 08/29/2010 9:20:08 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: null and void

Actually, time would move normally for the person travelling at near c. To the observers, time would slow wayyy down for him. If he made a round trip from here to Alpha Centauri at near c, a couple of years (months?) would pass for him, and hundreds of years would pass for us on the ground. Not sure about the numbers, but you get the idea. This stuff gives me a headache, but it is darn cool.


71 posted on 08/29/2010 9:35:18 PM PDT by America_Right (The best thing about the Obama Presidency: McCain isn't the President!)
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To: null and void

Had a Toyota that went the speed of light. And when the gas pedal stuck, you were really in trouble.


72 posted on 08/29/2010 9:39:57 PM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: The Magical Mischief Tour

Okay.
That means that..
our whole solar system...
could be, like...
one tiny atom in the fingernail
of some other giant being.
This is too much
That means...

-one tiny atom in my fingernail could be—
-Could be one little...
tiny universe.

Could l buy some pot from you?


73 posted on 08/29/2010 9:42:32 PM PDT by Pylon (Tagline: (optional, printed after your name on post):)
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To: Scythian

No wonder their men keep turning up "missing." :-))

74 posted on 08/30/2010 2:40:42 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: Pylon
Here's an example of an itty bitty universe:

Now, look at the pen, please.


75 posted on 08/30/2010 2:48:01 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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Sun's twin may be home to 9 alien planets -- ANI -- Washington, May 01, 2012

Suns twin may be home to 9 alien planets

76 posted on 05/20/2012 8:52:17 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (FReepathon 2Q time -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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