Using a relatively new planet-hunting technique that can spot worlds one-tenth the mass of our own, researchers have discovered a potentially rocky, icy body that may be the smallest planet yet found orbiting a star outside our solar system.
The discovery suggests the technique, gravitational microlensing, may be an exceptional technology for finding distant planets with traits that could support life.
Science fiction fans, rejoice!
5 comments:
20 bucks they find an Earth II (sort of speak) before 2025!
Takers?
Jon
Extrasolar planets become a Polish speciality. First dr Konacki finding the first planet in a triple-star system and now professors Udalski & Paczynki and their gravitational microlensing method...not to mention Alex Wolszczan who had discovered the very best extrasolar planet orbiting a pulsar back in 90'ties.
Don't blame me...we Poles got so few reasons to be proud of so I had to boast of these :)
God bless thy Poles!
(pun intended)
Jon
Love the acronym too:
OGLE (Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment)
Who makes these up?
Why, Poles!
i also heard it actually means sth ("a delicate fondly touch" AFAIR) in some language...
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