We humans are getting good at finding new planets!
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/091019-exoplanet-harps.html
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/091019-exoplanet-harps.html
Meh, just a few dozen new exoplanets...
- Thread starter Alpha_Geek
- Start date
Just read this on Discovery.com as well. I love it when there's news of this.
Interesting announcement - was reading about it on the BBC website too.
Potentially more strange new globes to gaze at fondly.
Potentially more strange new globes to gaze at fondly.
A space probe went up recently that uses the same method of detection but it's thought to be sensitive enough to detect Earth-sized planets. I imagine it will be several years of data collection and more months of data analysis before anything is published. That's when the real excitement will come. If (probably more like when) we find Earth-sized planets in the habitable zone of sun-like stars, that will really start to fire the imaginations of people. Hopefully, it will generate mass interest in space travel and science in general.
Very true, we're seeing lots of big planets that are way outside the parameters of "earth-like", it'll be great when detection technology starts reporting the ones we could walk on. 
All Seeing Eye
Admiral
Is there any chance that the discovery of new planets could end up being a mistake and turns out new planets were never discovered?
What if the methods used to detect planets turn out to be wrong? what if there's a misunderstanding?
What if the methods used to detect planets turn out to be wrong? what if there's a misunderstanding?
If they're wrong, then we're still the only known star with rocks spinning around it.
That being said, the beauty of scientific method is that the results have been duplicated, or they wouldn't have published.
These people actually have in-depth knowledge in math, physics and astronomy, and they don't announce stuff unless the know it's correct.
That being said, the beauty of scientific method is that the results have been duplicated, or they wouldn't have published.
These people actually have in-depth knowledge in math, physics and astronomy, and they don't announce stuff unless the know it's correct.
J
Jetfire
Guest
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/10/091019-32-new-planets-found.html
32 planets humans will never get to visit.
32 planets humans will never get to visit.
IF they discover enough of these things, perhaps one day I shall be able to claim one of them as my very own. I WILL rule benevolently. Oh yeah. . . .
Pure failure of the imagination. You may not visit one. But someone will, if the human species survives. (In whatever form, including posthuman.)
"Posthuman?!?!" What's THAT supposed to mean? I s'pose you're think you can just fold up a person, toss them in an envelope and send them to another planet via the post as if they were a letter--- BLOODY HELL! That's a BRILLIANT idea!!"
Very good to know!
I'm still waiting to see Lave, Diso, Riedquat and Zaonce.
J
Jetfire
Guest
I wanna go to one now!!! I wouldn't mind taking a walk on something in our own solar system.
