Photos of Exoplanets! Holy crap

bipedalhumanoid · **Joined:** Fri Feb 09, 2007 1:55 pm **Posts:** 2675

I never thought this would be possible. Just goes to show ...never say never...

Quote:

Astronomers have taken what they say are the first-ever direct images of planets outside of our solar system, including a visible-light snapshot of a single-planet system and an infrared picture of a multiple-planet system.

Earth-like worlds might also exist in the three-planet system, but if so they are too dim to photograph. The other newfound planet orbits a star called Fomalhaut, which is visible without the aid of a telescope. It is the 18th brightest star in the sky.

The massive worlds, each much heftier than Jupiter (at least for the three-planet system), could change how astronomers define the term "planet," one planet-hunter said.
...

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/0 ... lanet.html

Post Edit: This is the NASA article...
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubbl ... lhaut.html

Ygern · **Posted:** Fri Nov 14, 2008 4:42 pm

I see its stirred up the 'What constitutes a planet' debate again.
Mebbe we should have a poll and settle the issue for once and for all :wink:

DollarLama · **Joined:** Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:42 pm **Posts:** 513

That's just beautiful. It was Carl Sagan's view of the universe that wakened the atheist in me. Any of the rest of your remember Cosmos? Some of it looks a bit mawkish now, but I remember watching every episode when I was in my early teens and being utterly blown away by the idea that every atom of every element in my body had been forged inside a long-dead star.

Ygern · **Posted:** Fri Nov 14, 2008 5:04 pm

Quote:

every atom of every element in my body had been forged inside a long-dead star

And eventually every atom of our bodies will be blown back into the cosmos when our star goes.

I think it was learning this that finally made me lose my fear of death.

DollarLama · **Joined:** Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:42 pm **Posts:** 513

I'm getting goose-pimples now just thinking about it.

bipedalhumanoid · **Joined:** Fri Feb 09, 2007 1:55 pm **Posts:** 2675

They reckon that Stellar system is only 60 million years old. That's very young compared to ours.

Ygern · **Posted:** Fri Nov 14, 2008 6:30 pm

Its not going to last very long either - only a billion years and the star will have burned itself out.

DollarLama · **Joined:** Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:42 pm **Posts:** 513

That's rock 'n' roll, dude.

Atheist Ireland Forum

Photos of Exoplanets! Holy crap

Who is online