Major Scientific Discovery - Extrasolar planet announcement 25 Jan 18:00 GMT

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the announcement of a major scientific discovery regarding an extrasolar planet, specifically focusing on its characteristics, detection methods, and implications for the understanding of Earth-like planets. The scope includes theoretical implications, observational techniques, and the classification of exoplanets.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants highlight the discovery of an Earth-like planet, OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb, which is reported to be 5.5 times the mass of Earth and orbits at a distance comparable to habitable worlds.
  • Others argue against the classification of the planet as 'Earth-like', noting its significant mass and the fact that it orbits a red dwarf star, which may not support conditions similar to Earth.
  • Predicted surface temperatures of the planet are discussed, with some participants suggesting it may resemble a more massive version of Pluto due to extremely low temperatures.
  • Concerns are raised about the assumptions regarding the planet's surface state, questioning whether it could be gaseous rather than solid.
  • Participants inquire about the gravitational effects on the planet's surface compared to Earth.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on whether the planet should be classified as 'Earth-like', with multiple competing views on its characteristics and implications for habitability. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the nature of the planet's surface and its classification.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the methods used to determine the planet's surface conditions and the criteria for defining 'Earth-like' planets, indicating a need for further clarification and exploration of these definitions.

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http://television.esa.int/default.cfm

Major Scientific Discovery - EMBARGOED
ESA TV News
Replay 1: 27 January 2006, 10:15-10:30 GMT

Replay 2: 28 January 2006, 11:30-11:45 GMT

The scientific journal NATURE will publish in its issue dated 26 January 2006, a major paper on a discovery addressing extra-solar planets.

The European Southern Observatory ESO contributed to this publication and has produced a Video News Release featuring new 3-D graphics, background footage and interview soundbites.

As for all NATURE papers, this release is strictly embargoed until 25 January 2006, at 18:00 GMT.

On 25 January at 17:30 GMT, the script for this TV Exchange will be posted as a PDF file under http://television.esa.int/photos/EbS44312.pfd

Also a pre-view video clip will be online on the ESA TV Website as of that time.

This ESA TV Exchanges feed is transmitted by the European Commission's "Europe by Satellite" (EbS) service. You can find the complete transmission schedule and download scripts and shot lists, also for ESA TV items, from the EbS Web site at http://europa.eu.int/comm/ebs/schedule.cfm

Anyone with some inside information?
 
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Astronomy news on Phys.org
ESO Press Release: http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2006/pr-03-06.html

Also with downloadable videos: http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2006/vid-03-06.html
 
http://www.nature.com/news/2006/060123/full/060123-5.html

25 January 2006
Found: one Earth-like planet
Astronomers use gravity lensing to spot homely planets.
Mark Peplow
Astronomers say they have found the most Earth-like planet yet outside our Solar System. At just 5.5 times the mass of Earth it is one of the smallest extrasolar planets ever found, and orbits its star at a distance comparable to that of habitable worlds.

Similarly sized extrasolar planets have been found before. But the method used to detect them meant we could see smallish planets only when they were very close to their suns, and such bodies are battered by scorching radiation.

Planet OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb looks much more like home. It lies about 390 million kilometres from its star: if it were inside our Solar System, the planet would sit between Mars and Jupiter.

Some blog discussion:
http://scienceblogs.com/principles/2006/01/a_new_life_awaits_you_in_the_o.php[/URL]Clear explanation of technique here:
[url]http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/01/25/general-relativity-as-a-tool/[/url]BBC article here:
[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4647142.stm[/url]
 
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Best discussion of this I've seen:

http://www.anthonares.net/2006/01/published-research-synopsis-55-earth.html

includes an interesting graph plotting mass/distance date on exoplanets found so far

and the beautiful lensing light curve that this discovery is based on

the arxiv preprint of the technical journal article is also available:

http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0601563
 
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Well, I wouldn't call it 'Earth-like', except that it is 'small' compared to Jupiter, Saturn, and the majority of exosolar planets yet discovered.

It has a mass 5-5.5 times that of Earth, it orbits a red dwarf (smaller and cooler than the sun), and its period about that parent star is 10 years! Not quite Earth-like, IMO.

Another story link - http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3551543a10,00.html

Predicted surface temperatures are minus 220°C (-364°F), meaning that its surface is likely to be layer of frozen liquid. It may therefore resemble a more massive version of Pluto!
from the BBC on-line article. Definitely not earth-like.
 
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Astronuc, I think what they mean is, that it’s the most Earth-like planet so far discovered. And going by the criteria of what constitutes an Earth-like planet, it may be the closest approximation we have for some time, now the TPF has been http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1092"
 
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Predicted surface temperatures are minus 220°C (-364°F), meaning that its surface is likely to be layer of frozen liquid. It may therefore resemble a more massive version of Pluto!

How do they know it has a solid surface? It could be a smaller gaseous planet like Uranus or Neptune.
 
How would gravity on this planet's surface compare to earth's