astronomical estimation

[chickenman]

Astronomers have estimated the number of earth-like planets in the galaxy may be in the billions

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_2078000/2078507.stm

 

[Late_Cretaceous]

Who was it that once said something to the extent that "the universe is not only grander then we suppose, but grander then we CAN suppose".

Mind boggling.

 

[Peregrine_Falcon]

It amuses me that one planet the size of Jupiter could possibly be similar to the earth just because it is circling some star. Any Jupiter size planet would not be able to support life. Jupiter's mass is so great that if anything were to "step foot on it" they would be stuck. One would weigh so much that it is impossible to move. . Also Earth is approximately 150 million km from our star the sun, while this planet is 320 million km from it's star HD 2039. Which depending on the stars energy would either fry it or freeze it. I would go on, but time is little and I must move on. Nice find.

 

[tycho]

PF,

The Jupiter-like planet detected is not the proposed earth-like planet. The equipment used to detect the wobble in stars is not accurate enough to detect a planet the size of Earth. So, needless to say, the estimates (more like guesses) are extremely rough. What they do know is that gas giants in orbits similar to the gas giants in our solar system are relatively common. Models have shown that gas giants are quite helpful in protection from asteroids, etc. to planets inside their orbit.

 

[OneLargeToe]

Also it's possible that Earth-sized satellites are orbiting these super gas giants that are in the habital zone.  That would make for an interesting world!

 

[No gods]

Originally posted by Peregrine_Falcon
It amuses me that one planet the size of Jupiter could possibly be similar to the earth just because it is circling some star. Any Jupiter size planet would not be able to support life. Jupiter's mass is so great that if anything were to "step foot on it" they would be stuck. One would weigh so much that it is impossible to move. . Also Earth is approximately 150 million km from our star the sun, while this planet is 320 million km from it's star HD 2039. Which depending on the stars energy would either fry it or freeze it. I would go on, but time is little and I must move on. Nice find.

I'm curious, did you actually READ the article?  Other than the size and distance statistics, what you have said here is nothing like the article.

 

[Peregrine_Falcon]

Yes, I read the article. Here you want proof

Astronomers will have to wait for a new generation of space-based telescopes incorporating advanced detectors before they can detect Earth-sized worlds orbiting other stars.

By the way that is the last line in the article. I am sorry that I was misleading. I just knew information on Jupiter, and I thought I might share it.