# New Planetary System Discovered in Big Dipper **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 16, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615 "2001-08-16T19:51:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/1 "2001-08-16T19:51:39Z")
[Link](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15988-2001Aug15.html) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Palandine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/958977/32.png) [@Palandine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palandine)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2001, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/2 "2001-08-16T20:08:28Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2001, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/3 "2001-08-16T20:22:15Z")
I read this too, and thought “way cool” Here’s a link to show it’s position in relation to the [Big Dipper](http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations/Ursa_Major.html). Anybody know how easy this would be to find in the Bay Area? I’d like to point it out to my son. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2001, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/4 "2001-08-16T20:26:37Z")
Pretty cool, all right. The existence of extra-solar planets was only theoretical just _six_ years ago. From a _Scientific American_ [article](http://www.sciam.com/explorations/052796explorations.html) dated May, 1996: > [@](#): > > Alien worlds are a staple of science fiction but until just a few months ago, they had no place in science fact. Despite decades of earnest searches, astronomers had no direct evidence that planets circle other stars. Then **last October,** Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz of Geneva Observatory detected a planet circling the star 51 Pegasi–and the floodgates opened. “Last October” would, therefore, be October, 1995. Here’s a really good [website](http://exoplanets.org/index.html) from the University of California at Berkely. The U.C. team has found 40 of these planets themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/5 "2001-08-16T20:49:06Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Oicu812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f475e1/32.png) [@Oicu812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oicu812)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2001, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/6 "2001-08-16T21:06:05Z")
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. 😉 ## O Vidi Vici Veni! ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/7 "2001-08-17T00:39:27Z")
NASA/JPL has a [Terrestrial Planet Finder](http://tpf.jpl.nasa.gov/whatis/whatis.html) 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? 300,000,000,000,000. Wow. Gee whiz! Holy Moses! The projected launch date is 2011. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Stewart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Dave\_Stewart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Stewart)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/8 "2001-08-17T01:15:07Z")
This is quite mindblowing. 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. Has anyone got around to naming these things yet? ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/9 "2001-08-17T12:19:22Z")
**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](http://www.iau.org/IAU/FAQ/exoplanets.html) concerning extrasolar planets in their FAQ. According to them: > [@](#): > > In response to frequent questions about plans to assign actual names to extra-solar planets, the IAU sees no need and has no plan to assign names to these objects at the present stage of our knowledge. Indeed, if planets are found to occur very frequently in the Universe, a system of individual names for planets might well rapidly be found equally impracticable as it is for stars, as planet discoveries progress. I think that’s a shame. At the very least, they should be named after their discoverers, much like comets are. ---
**Author:** ![Erroneous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71c47a/32.png) [@Erroneous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erroneous)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/10 "2001-08-17T12:47:13Z")
**stuffinb** , check out [http://www.heavens-above.com](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](http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/process_page/finding_signals.html), 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. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/11 "2001-08-17T19:43:36Z")
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…” ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/12 "2001-08-17T20:32:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > \*\* . . . “Ceti Alpha 5” . . . \*\* [Khan]You . . . didn’t expect to find me here . . . You thought this was Ceti Alpha 6 . . .[/Khan] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bluepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bluepony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluepony)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/13 "2001-08-17T20:33:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > \*\*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. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/14 "2001-08-18T06:55:49Z")
Wow, very cool. I can’t wait to show this thread and that link to my son. Thanks pldennison and the rest of the thread contributors! ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/15 "2001-08-18T07:40:08Z")
> [@](#): > > I think that’s a shame. At the very least, they should be named after their discoverers, much like comets are. 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. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/16 "2001-08-20T22:55:12Z")
Wow! According to this page, they have discovered planets orbiting a _pulsar!_ > [@](#): > > What is heartening about the detection is that the planets were probably formed after the supernova that resulted in the pulsar. Thereby demonstrating that planet formation is probably a common rather than a rare phenomena. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/17 "2001-08-20T23:00:18Z")
My best friend is an astro major. He actually called and woke me up to share. He and I used to have parties on peak nights for meteor showers and gather around the telescope… God, I love geekdom. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/18 "2001-08-20T23:17:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > **Wow! According to [this page,](http://exoplanets.org/othermethframe.html) they have discovered planets orbiting a _pulsar!_** THERE’S that link! ---
**Author:** ![nooc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b487fb/32.png) [@nooc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nooc)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/19 "2001-08-20T23:23:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![MrDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/22d042/32.png) [@MrDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDeath)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planetary-system-discovered-in-big-dipper/76615/20 "2001-08-21T00:05:42Z")
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. Who’s with me? Let’s take over the IAU! 🙂