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defjam 7:55 Wed Feb 22
NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed the first known system of seven Earth-size planets around a single star. Three of these planets are firmly located in the habitable zone, the area around the parent star where a rocky planet is most likely to have liquid water.

The discovery sets a new record for greatest number of habitable-zone planets found around a single star outside our solar system. All of these seven planets could have liquid water – key to life as we know it – under the right atmospheric conditions, but the chances are highest with the three in the habitable zone.

“This discovery could be a significant piece in the puzzle of finding habitable environments, places that are conducive to life,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “Answering the question ‘are we alone’ is a top science priority and finding so many planets like these for the first time in the habitable zone is a remarkable step forward toward that goal.”

Interesting stuff.


The TRAPPIST-1 star, an ultra-cool dwarf, has seven Earth-size planets orbiting it. This artist's concept appeared on the cover of the journal Nature on Feb. 23, 2017.

gph 2:19 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

Maybe Ron thinks the artist's impression is what the scientists really think is the case.

I reckon we can rule out the possibility that the star and its planets are resting on a glass plane.

Fivetide 1:41 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

"just"

Hammer and Pickle 1:14 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

It takes an artist to do an impression of a single planet let alone an entire solar system, you know.

Pedant 1:10 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

penners28 12:39 Thu Feb 23

As opposed to the genuine artists impression?

Far Cough 12:43 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

It's an artists impression?

Well fuck my old boots

penners28 12:39 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

love the made up artist's impressions of what the planet looks like!

Grumpster 12:24 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

I always like to start discussions about the universe when in the room with my missus and dad, as they then start thinking about it and it hurts their heads trying to get them round it all.

I'm not having that there are more stars out there than there are grains of sand on the earth though, just simply not ever having it so fuck you universe!!! ;o)

Far Cough 12:05 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

The ironic thing that the bellend Antly conveniently is unaware of, is that he accuses scientists of ASSUMING a planet is there, while conveniently forgetting that HE ASSUMED the Twin Towers terrorism act was a government plot

ohgodno 12:03 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

Ronald_antly 12:30 Thu Feb 23

You can disprove it. Astronomy is possibly the last science where the amateur scientist has a significant role to play. The equipment needed to do useful astronomy is not expensive. There are literally thousands of clubs where they'll teach you to use it. In six months you could be gathering data to test what ever alternative hypothesis you favour.

A second line of attack would be to go after the assumptions they are making that are based on physics and chemistry. Because planets and stars are so big and the distances so large the physics involved is basic Newtonian stuff. A person of average intelligence could easily teach themselves it. The math's knowledge required is also basic. I reckon in about three years you could get to a level where you could examine the assumptions made and challenge them if they are wrong. It's not expensive either. The internet is chock full of free courses now. From places like MIT. The chemistry is probably a little trickier but not beyond the abilities of an average person.

If you made your discoveries, and challenged the assumptions, you would find funding flowing way. There's always someone wanting to disrupt current thinking. As a newbie you might find your theories being stolen from you. But you wouldn't care because all you care about is the truth-am I right!

ohgodno 11:47 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

Ronald_antly 12:30 Thu Feb 23

There are three ways to detect planets orbiting another star.

1) Some can be seen.

2) Stars and planets orbit each other around a barycenter. The stars with planets will display a signature wobble. From this wobble the mass of the planet and it's distance can be calculated. The type of planet it is can be calculated from it's mass and it's distance from it's star and planetary formation is well understood.

3) When a planet passes in front of a star it's light dims slightly. I'm not sure how but the mass and distance from the star can be deduced from the dimming. The period of the dimming in relation to the mass of the star describes the planets speed and so it's orbit.

The idea this is a massive con is not supported by the fact that until recently (and it may even still be true now) most exoplanets were discovered by amateur astronomers.

Willtell 11:35 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

Fake news to test out Trump supporters....

Darby_ 10:30 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

Like journalists, scientists are enemies of the people.

cholo 7:37 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

The tragic thing is Ron antly honestly believes he's being clever.

Westham67 7:29 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

HairyHammer 12:51 Thu Feb 23

He's building a wall in space to stop the chance of l illegal Aliens

The Cult Of Bob 3:25 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

I for one welcome our lizard overlords.

Mike Oxsaw 1:22 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

Ronald_antly 12:30 Thu Feb 23

Have you ever seen wind?

Not seen (or felt) the EFFECT of wind, but wind itself.

HairyHammer 12:51 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

Apparently Sarah Palin can see them from Alaska.

And Trump said he will try to build a very tall tower building that will stand between them and if necessary he will bankrupt the world to do so .

Hammer and Pickle 12:41 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

Hence the HadRON collider?

, 12:40 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

I would like to point out to the wazzock of Oz that the reason NASA made the announcement is because they have proved it. The discovery is not a theory it is a scientific fact..................................unlike all conspiracy theories.

gph 12:39 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

No-one can see an electron, so PCs just work by magic, using Ron logic

Hammer and Pickle 12:35 Thu Feb 23
Re: NASA just announced the discovery of seven Earth-size worlds just 39 light-years away.

My sides are a-splittin'

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