Astronomers at UC Berkeley announced the discovery of a planetary system orbiting 47 Ursae Majoris. It consists of two gas giants – one much larger than Jupiter, the other somewhat smaller – in circular orbits 47UMa at a distance comparable to that of our asteroid belt. That leaves a large space within the star’s temperate zone for possible Earthlike planets. This is the first system discovered out of 70 or so that has orbits this circular and this far out.
Every time I read about one of these, I am astounded at the age we live in. These kinds of things were mere speculation only a half-century ago. Now, we can detect them with some regularity, and have in at least one case made direct observation of extrasolar planets passing in front of its star. Amazing.
I agree, pld. Discoveries like this are too cool. I just wished they caused more excitement among people. It amazes me to think we have actual human beings living in space, but everyone I know is completely underwhelmed by that.
About the only thing I’d actually vote for to raise my taxes would be aggressive space exploration. All that cool stuff and we’re just sitting here looking at it…
I read this too, and thought “way cool” Here’s a link to show it’s position in relation to the Big Dipper. Anybody know how easy this would be to find in the Bay Area? I’d like to point it out to my son.
Mark my words: in ten years, they will have discovered earth-sized planets in earth-like orbits.
Just the thought gives me chills, and the crazy thing is that you know they’re out there–but it’s so cool that we can point to a star and say, “Yep, there’s planets 'round that one, planets just like in our solar system.”
You might not be able to see the star, stuffinb. It’s 5th magnitude, and that’s pretty tough if there’s any light pollution. The dimmest star you can see at a good dark site would probably be around 6th magnitude. (Remember, magnitude is backwards–the larger the number, the dimmer the star.)
But I have been expecting this. Although some people would like to believe that our solar system is unique, and the center of the “intelligent” universe, I have had a hunch for a long time that our system is normal for G class and very similiar stars. That and the fact that no other race has seen fit to make their presence known is sure proof that they are intelligent.
NASA/JPL has a Terrestrial Planet Finder in the works that should be totally astounding. It will be able to resolve details of the atmospheric compositions of Earth-sized planets up to 50 light-years away. Which is about, what, 300 trillion miles?
If this one in 40 or thereabouts star systems have solar system like characteristics, with a big Jupiter to suck in the crap, then this raises the probability that there is life elsewhere, doesn’t it?
I have to admit I’ve been a bit skeptical, but this is quite something.
jab, thanks for the clarification. It just makes the mind boggle even more.
Dave, that’s an excellent question about naming. I checked the homepage for the International Astronomical Union, the body responsible for such things as naming astronomical objects, and they have a page concerning extrasolar planets in their FAQ. According to them:
I think that’s a shame. At the very least, they should be named after their discoverers, much like comets are.
stuffinb, check out http://www.heavens-above.com to find sky maps for your part of the world. See if there are any bright satellite passes or Iridium flares in your area, while you’re at it…while perhaps not as cool as a whole 'nother solar system, they’re a bit more visible and can be quite dramatic.
Personally, I’m waiting for the area between Leo and Orion to become visible in my skies. Accoring to the seti@home people, this is where a couple of signals “that may prove to be extraterrestrial in origin once they have been carefully analyzed” are. Sure, it might just turn out to be natural phenomena, like pulsars or something, but I figure I’ll grin and wave towards that region of the sky anyway, just in case someone’s watching.
As far as naming them, it seems to me that they should just give them numbers based on their parent star(s), starting with the innermost planet, just as they do on Star Trek and other science fiction: “Altair 4”, “Ceti Alpha 5” (which actually should have been “Alpha Ceti 5”), “Sol 3” (which would be Earth).
Of course, some stars are known only by a number, so perhaps they should use “A, B, C…”
Of course it’s hard to quibble semantics and proper star nomenclature when you’ve carelessly landed poor Khan and his party on Ceti Alpha 5. Otherwise known as The Planet Of The Brainsucking Eel-Worms. You’ll probably get one or two of them stuffed in your ear by some pissed-off genetically-altered megalomaniac.
Obviously, I have absolutely nothing intelligent to add to this discussion.
Oh, I don’t know. Let the first colonists name them. Or the first explorers. Or the guys who download the pictures from the first probes. Or the guys who download the pictures from the super-advanced telescopes, at the very least. Seriously, instead of just slapping a bunch of random names from All the World’s Mythologies on them, we could try to give them names that actually reflect the planets’ characters–all the classic science fiction cliches; Oceanus for a world completely covered with water; Nova Terra (or would it be Terra Nova?) for some place that looks a lot like home; Janus for a tidally-locked planet with a permanent dayside and nightside; Paradise for some hell-hole that some slick real estate developer is trying to sucker people into colonizing.
I don’t want to burst any bubbles, but the most likely the main reason the planets haven’t been names is that no one has accaully SEEN these new planets. it’s all done by opserving (I can’t spell that word right now, damn hamster fell off the wheel) how the stars around them interact and “shake” i think was the word they used. not that I’m saying I don’t believe they are there. hell there has to be intelligent life SOMEWHERE in the universe because it sure isn’t here.
Numbering the planets from the inside out makes much less sense than numbering them by mass. By rights, Jupiter should be Sol 1, Saturn should be Sol 2, and Terra should be Sol 5. Luna should be Sol 5.1, and Deimos should be Sol 7.2, etc. etc.
