Telescope sees smallest exoplanet (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News

The smallest planet yet found outside the Solar System has been detected by a French space telescope.

The rocky world is less than twice the size of Earth.

Only a handful of planets have so far been found with a mass comparable to Earth, Venus, Mars or Mercury.

The discovery was made by Corot, an orbiting observatory with a 27cm-diameter telescope to search for planets orbiting other stars.

About 330 of these "exoplanets" have been discovered so far. But most of them have been gas giants similar to Jupiter or Neptune.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7868100.stm

[Warpy]

1. I think they'll find that most stars have planets

and eventually they'll discover that most planets have life.

To think we're alone in the vastness of this universe is the worst sort of conceit.

[Kittycat]

3. I disagree that *most* planets have life.

I think it's more accurate to say that many solar systems have life. But it's beyond reaching to suggest that most planets have life.

[qazplm]

7. yes particularly since

we are likely 1 for 8 in this solar system alone.

It is possible Mars has life, but other than that, it's a real reach for any of the other planets. Maybe Europa.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. "Either we are alone in the Universe, or we are not -- either way, it's a staggering thought." nt

[Ilsa]

2. Damn the French! And their Fries! I bet they

get cockey over this, too! :sarcasm:

I wonder if the fundies will have something to say about it, like whether God is there or not?

[Lint Head]

5. At this point in time this is the only planet that has death.

:dem:

[Thor_MN]

9. Oh, way to go all glass half full on us.

:)

On the other hand, one of my favorite stories seems apropos in this case. George Carlin was asked about Glass half full or half empty and he replied along the lines of "Sometimes the glass is too damn big."

[Bill McBlueState]

6. Corot's going to be kicking a lot of ass

in the next few years.

[Ediacara]

8. This is good news for little planet finding, but the year of this planet is 20 hours

And the average daytime high is between 1000 and 1500 degrees. Celsius.

[Phoonzang]

10. They found Mustafar?

Except without all the Jedi duels because they'd be flash boiled in a matter of seconds?