[JoeSchem]

"a first planet orbiting 55 Cancri "in 14.6 days at a distance only one-tenth that from Earth to the sun" That must be Vulcan.

In Star Trek lore, Mr. Spock's home planet of Vulcan orbited Epsilon Eridani. Back about two years ago, astronomers reported discovering a planet orbiting that star, also.

[thedilg]

From a viewpoint of ETI, all these discoveries are not suitable for life. This particular planet is not anywhere near the "goldilocks zone" i.e. not too hot, not too cold. Geez, this Jupiter size planet is one tenth the distance to their sun as compared to our planet. I am certain that the temperature on this planet would melt lead. With a planet this size the gravity would be incredible. The atmosphere would be enormously heavy and poisonous.

By the way most of the planets that have been discovered so far have highly elliptical orbits. Therefore, long periods of time at extreme cold and shorter periods of time at metal melting temperatures.

Godspeed, The Dilg

[colorado tanker]

"In Star Trek lore, Mr. Spock's home planet of Vulcan orbited Epsilon Eridani. Back about two years ago, astronomers reported discovering a planet orbiting that star, also." Well, if we could just figure out how to simulate a warp drive signature, maybe they'd come visit us!