New Planet Found! 70% Bigger Than Jupiter!

[Ố_ỏ TǿsspǿT ỏ_Ố]

The new planet was identified by astronomers looking for transiting planets -- that is, planets that pass in front of their home star -- using a network of small automated telescopes in Arizona, California, and the Canary Islands. TrES-4 was discovered less than half a degree (about the size of the full Moon) from the team's third planet, TrES-3.

"TrES-4 is the largest known exoplanet," said Georgi Mandushev, Lowell Observatory astronomer and the lead author of the paper announcing the discovery. "It is about 70 percent bigger than Jupiter, the Solar System's largest planet, but less massive, making it a planet of extremely low density. Its mean density is only about 0.2 grams per cubic centimeter, or about the density of balsa wood! And because of the planet's relatively weak pull on its upper atmosphere, some of the atmosphere probably escapes in a comet-like tail."


The planet's home star is bigger and hotter than the Sun, and is about ten times larger than the planet.


Not only is the planet TrES-4 mysterious and intriguing, but so is its host star cataloged as GSC 02620-00648. Georgi Mandushev explains: "The host star of TrES-4 appears to be about the same age as our Sun, but because it is more massive, it has evolved much faster. It has become what astronomers call a 'subgiant', or a star that has exhausted all of its hydrogen fuel in the core and is on its way of becoming a 'red giant', a huge, cool red star like Arcturus or Aldebaran."

Link (Includes Picture (simulation))

I don't do woo woos

I want an iron!

[AFG_47]

amazing....

[Valley-Girl]

cool. I wonder when we will be doing manned exploration out of our solor system. Not that there better ways to spend money. Thanks for the share.

[Red Venus Moon]

I think it would also be neat if we could do exploration outside our own universe, but unfortunately we have not perfected things like cyogenic stasis yet.... which would suspend a human body in a deep sleep/death like stasis until the ship reached it's destination and the body is then reanimated/awoken to complete the mission. It would take soo many years to reach even the outer most parts of the universe and we have not found a fuel yet to help a ship get to it's destination. If we could learn light year (traveling at the speed of light) travel and a reuseable fuel system, then we might have it going on So many people have lost interest in the space programs which is such a shame, because if we still had the push for space exploration, like we did in the 60's, we might of already aquired that kind of knowledge.

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by Ố_ỏ TǿsspǿT ỏ_Ố

((simulation))

you had to say it didn't you.

[Ố_ỏ TǿsspǿT ỏ_Ố]

I'm proud of myself that i left the 't' out








I don't do woo woos

I want an iron!

[Comrad]

Originally Posted by Red Venus Moon

I think it would also be neat if we could do exploration outside our own universe, but unfortunately we have not perfected things like cyogenic stasis yet.... which would suspend a human body in a deep sleep/death like stasis until the ship reached it's destination and the body is then reanimated/awoken to complete the mission. It would take soo many years to reach even the outer most parts of the universe and we have not found a fuel yet to help a ship get to it's destination. If we could learn light year (traveling at the speed of light) travel and a reuseable fuel system, then we might have it going on So many people have lost interest in the space programs which is such a shame, because if we still had the push for space exploration, like we did in the 60's, we might of already aquired that kind of knowledge.

If we have another Cold War scenario, then anything's possible.

Interesting info, Toss.

[The Voice]

Originally Posted by Red Venus Moon

I think it would also be neat if we could do exploration outside our own universe, but unfortunately we have not perfected things like cyogenic stasis yet.... which would suspend a human body in a deep sleep/death like stasis until the ship reached it's destination and the body is then reanimated/awoken to complete the mission. It would take soo many years to reach even the outer most parts of the universe and we have not found a fuel yet to help a ship get to it's destination. If we could learn light year (traveling at the speed of light) travel and a reuseable fuel system, then we might have it going on So many people have lost interest in the space programs which is such a shame, because if we still had the push for space exploration, like we did in the 60's, we might of already aquired that kind of knowledge.

You mean outside our own Solar System? Or galaxy perhaps? Even at lightspeeds, it would take billions of years to reach the edge of the known universe.

I love that we're finding all these new worlds though. I'm anxious for the day when our technology has advnaced enough that we can start identifying smaller planets where life might possibly exist.

And I agree that it's shameful that we're not pursuing space exploration the way we used to. There is so much to be learned, and it gives humanity hope when we can accomplish things like this.

[Josh in Macon]

Originally Posted by The Voice

You mean outside our own Solar System? Or galaxy perhaps? Even at lightspeeds, it would take billions of years to reach the edge of the known universe.

I love that we're finding all these new worlds though. I'm anxious for the day when our technology has advnaced enough that we can start identifying smaller planets where life might possibly exist.

And I agree that it's shameful that we're not pursuing space exploration the way we used to. There is so much to be learned, and it gives humanity hope when we can accomplish things like this.

outside our galaxy is just our same galaxy but 50-100 years in the future!!!

think im a nutjob? boy i hope so

actually i dont know but wouldnt that be a head spinner? our same galaxy in the future

they do say space and time are linked

im sorry if ive twisted peoples minds

[Himashu Hyuuga]

Josh in Macon, you have twisted my mind. Anyways, it's such a shame we don't have the technology to travel to all these new planets yet...