First direct imaging of planets around another star

[PhilO 0]

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/11...-direct-im.html

For the first time, astronomers have taken a visual image of a multiple-planet solar system beyond our own.

Using the Gemini North telescope and the W. M. Keck Observatory on Hawaii's Mauna Kea, researchers observed in infrared light three planets orbiting around a star about 130 light-years away from Earth, called HR 8799. The discovery, published today in Science Express, is a step forward in the hunt for planets, and life, beyond Earth.

The alien system is supersized compared to our own: All three planets are gas giants, weighing roughly 10, 10 and 7 times the mass of Jupiter, circling a parent star 1.5 times the mass of our sun, and 5 times as bright. The giant bodies (two of which are pictured above) are orbiting at roughly 25, 40, and 70 times the distance between Earth and our sun. If there are Earth-sized planets present, they are too small to see with current technology.

[KurtColville 0]

Absolutely fantastic. I wonder where the third planet was. It's amazing to think of how much larger these three are than Jupiter, no slouch itself. We are making such incredible progress in surveying our stellar neighborhood.

[Mercury 0]

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/11...-direct-im.html

For the first time, astronomers have taken a visual image of a multiple-planet solar system beyond our own.

Using the Gemini North telescope and the W. M. Keck Observatory on Hawaii's Mauna Kea, researchers observed in infrared light three planets orbiting around a star about 130 light-years away from Earth, called HR 8799. The discovery, published today in Science Express, is a step forward in the hunt for planets, and life, beyond Earth.

The alien system is supersized compared to our own: All three planets are gas giants, weighing roughly 10, 10 and 7 times the mass of Jupiter, circling a parent star 1.5 times the mass of our sun, and 5 times as bright. The giant bodies (two of which are pictured above) are orbiting at roughly 25, 40, and 70 times the distance between Earth and our sun. If there are Earth-sized planets present, they are too small to see with current technology.

If we can see them, that means they can see us...

[ruveyn ben yosef 0]

If we can see them, that means they can see us...

First, Planets don't see. Sentient beings who live on planets see.

Second, A sees B is not a reflexive relation in general.

ruveyn

[RayK 0]

If we can see them, that means they can see us...

First, Planets don't see. Sentient beings who live on planets see.

Second, A sees B is not a reflexive relation in general.

First, it was a joke.

Second, it was a joke, hence the smiley face.

[Paul's Here 0]

If we can see them, that means they can see us...

First, Planets don't see. Sentient beings who live on planets see.

Second, A sees B is not a reflexive relation in general.

First, it was a joke.

Second, it was a joke, hence the smiley face.

Without introspection, it is not possible to grasp that.

[piz 0]

If we can see them, that means they can see us...

First, Planets don't see. Sentient beings who live on planets see.

Second, A sees B is not a reflexive relation in general.

First, it was a joke.

Second, it was a joke, hence the smiley face.

Without introspection, it is not possible to grasp that.

My day was totally humorless until I read this exchange. Thanks, guys!

[B. Royce 0]

If we can see them, that means they can see us...

First, Planets don't see. Sentient beings who live on planets see.

Second, A sees B is not a reflexive relation in general.

First, it was a joke.

Second, it was a joke, hence the smiley face.

Without introspection, it is not possible to grasp that.

My day was totally humorless until I read this exchange. Thanks, guys!

Day, as a division of time, does not experience humor.

[Aurelia 0]

Day, as a division of time, does not experience humor.

Nice!

[Arnold 0]

Day, as a division of time, does not experience humor.

Good one, you beat him to it.