Solar System with a "Jupiter and Saturn" discovered

[brellis]

Article<br /><font color="yellow">COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An international team of astronomers has discovered two planets that resemble smaller versions of Jupiter and Saturn in a solar system nearly 5,000 light years away.<br /><br />The find suggests that our galaxy hosts many planetary systems like our own, said Scott Gaudi, assistant professor of astronomy at Ohio State University.<br /><br />He and his colleagues reported their results in the February 15 issue of the journal Science.<br /><br />The two planets were revealed when the star they orbit crossed in front of a more distant star as seen from Earth. For a two-week period from late March through early April of 2006, the nearer star magnified the light shining from the farther star.<br /><br />The phenomenon is called gravitational microlensing, and this was a particularly dramatic example: the light from the more distant star was magnified 500 times.<br /><br />The Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) first detected the event, dubbed OGLE-2006-BLG-109, on March 28, 2006. The Microlensing Follow Up Network (MicroFUN), led by Andrew Gould, professor of astronomy at Ohio State, then joined with OGLE to organize astronomers worldwide to gather observations of it. Andrzej Udalski, professor of astronomy at Warsaw University Observatory, is the leader of OGLE.</font><br /><br />Regarding estimates of the mass of planets discovered by the transit method: How would angle of orbit and observed position relative to the equator of the star affect the perceived size of an exosolar planet?<br /><br />If our angle to a star's ecliptic is from an elevated perspective, might a really big Jupiter look to us like a small jupiter?<br /><br />Regarding stellar microlensing, I wonder how far in advance they predicted this observing opportunity. How accurate are models of stellar motion in our galaxy? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[brellis]

MicroFUN report - the "magnitude" chart says it all. Cool global effort too! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[3488]

Very interesting. Thanks brad.<br /><br />Inner planet 80% of Jupiter's mass & the outer one 80% of Saturn's. Weird.<br /><br />Parent star a red dwarf.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

Its at least a step closer to confirming earthlike worlds I hope. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

Jupiters are to moon.There are hot Jupiters much larger than our Jupiter.Nthing new.

 

[thebigcat]

It is a step, but I don't see it as being one which takes us closer to confirming Earthlike worlds. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Depending on whether the orbits are circular, it could indeed indicate a system like ours with large outer planets that would be stable long enough for inner rocky planets to form.<br /><br />That seems to set our solar system apart from most discovered so far, and it gave enough time for life to evolve on earth.<br /><br />I'll have to defer more judgements until the article arrives in the mailbox <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

What is new is that this is a system that more closely resembles our own with respect to having two gas giants at similar distances. Most hot Jupiters orbit in close to the parent star and as you mentioned, are usually much larger.<br /><br />The drawback to this system is the parent star is so much less luminous which means an earthlike world would be much closer in its orbital path. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

Your probably right. I think I just got caught up in the moment. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[elguapoguano]

<font color="yellow">The drawback to this system is the parent star is so much less luminous which means an earthlike world would be much closer in its orbital path.</font><br />True, but even a red dwarf star has a habitable zone. Just it's "Goldilocks's zone" would be closer to the star it's self. With these massive planets at the just about the right size and distance, rocky earth like planets would be nicely shielded from big planet killers. If such a world does exist there. A much different form of life could be present.<br /><br />all very very interesting. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#ff0000"><u><em>Don't let your sig line incite a gay thread ;>)</em></u></font> </div>

 

[3488]

Chances are such a planet would keep the same side turned towards its parent star.<br /><br />The day side would in all likelihood would get very hot, the night side perhaps only a few Kelvin.<br /><br />Would not be very condusive to living organisms on the surface, unless the planet has a very dense<br />atmosphere that could distribute the warmth, I suppose.<br /><br />I would also doubt, that due to the light peaking in the red part of the spectrum, that <br />photosynthesis would be possible.<br /><br />Just have my doubts about complex life on such a world.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

Thats something that would be well worth investigating. See if life can be found on an earthlike world orbiting a red dwarf. And in all likelihood, it would be very different than what were expecting. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

{bump} <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p>Ricardo, don't feel bad about not finding the thread...it's ha bit hard to amneuver around here right now, and the Search Function isn't very helpful.</p><p>I think there are sme links to other english articles in the eraly posts. If you can't read the yellow post well, just highlight it like you were going to copy it and it will be easier to read.</p><p>Wayne</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[Ricardo_Savino]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Ricardo, don't feel bad about not finding the thread...it's ha bit hard to amneuver around here right now, and the Search Function isn't very helpful.I think there are sme links to other english articles in the eraly posts. If you can't read the yellow post well, just highlight it like you were going to copy it and it will be easier to read.Wayne <br /> Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Hi&nbsp;Meteor!!!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Thanks&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;words!</p><p>You&nbsp;know,&nbsp;I&nbsp;am&nbsp;new&nbsp;here&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;forum&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;do&nbsp;not&nbsp;like&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;this&nbsp;kind&nbsp;of&nbsp;mistake.&nbsp;But&nbsp;I&nbsp;really&nbsp;look&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;forum&nbsp;and&nbsp;this&nbsp;thread&nbsp;must&nbsp;escaped&nbsp;me!</p><p>But,&nbsp;that&acute;s&nbsp;life!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>About&nbsp;the&nbsp;news,&nbsp;well,&nbsp;I&nbsp;found&nbsp;this&nbsp;very&nbsp;intresting&nbsp;one,&nbsp;since&nbsp;as&nbsp;far&nbsp;as&nbsp;I&nbsp;can&nbsp;remember&nbsp;there&acute;s&nbsp;no&nbsp;star&nbsp;system&nbsp;similar&nbsp;to&nbsp;ours&nbsp;found&nbsp;until&nbsp;now.</p><p>I&nbsp;think&nbsp;that&nbsp;this&nbsp;one&nbsp;deserves&nbsp;a&nbsp;deep&nbsp;research&nbsp;since&nbsp;we&nbsp;may&nbsp;find&nbsp;other&nbsp;planets,&nbsp;pehaps,&nbsp;with&nbsp;luck,&nbsp;eath-like,&nbsp;dispite&nbsp;the&nbsp;star&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;small&nbsp;red&nbsp;dwarf.</p><p>Well,&nbsp;let&acute;s&nbsp;wait&nbsp;for&nbsp;future&nbsp;news&nbsp;on&nbsp;this&nbsp;one!!!&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#ff0000"><font size="3">Look up and feel small!</font></font></strong> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>&nbsp;Hi&nbsp;Meteor!!!&nbsp;Thanks&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;words!You&nbsp;know,&nbsp;I&nbsp;am&nbsp;new&nbsp;here&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;forum&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;do&nbsp;not&nbsp;like&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;this&nbsp;kind&nbsp;of&nbsp;mistake.&nbsp;But&nbsp;I&nbsp;really&nbsp;look&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;forum&nbsp;and&nbsp;this&nbsp;thread&nbsp;must&nbsp;escaped&nbsp;me!But,&nbsp;that&acute;s&nbsp;life!&nbsp;About&nbsp;the&nbsp;news,&nbsp;well,&nbsp;I&nbsp;found&nbsp;this&nbsp;very&nbsp;intresting&nbsp;one,&nbsp;since&nbsp;as&nbsp;far&nbsp;as&nbsp;I&nbsp;can&nbsp;remember&nbsp;there&acute;s&nbsp;no&nbsp;star&nbsp;system&nbsp;similar&nbsp;to&nbsp;ours&nbsp;found&nbsp;until&nbsp;now.I&nbsp;think&nbsp;that&nbsp;this&nbsp;one&nbsp;deserves&nbsp;a&nbsp;deep&nbsp;research&nbsp;since&nbsp;we&nbsp;may&nbsp;find&nbsp;other&nbsp;planets,&nbsp;pehaps,&nbsp;with&nbsp;luck,&nbsp;eath-like,&nbsp;dispite&nbsp;the&nbsp;star&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;small&nbsp;red&nbsp;dwarf.Well,&nbsp;let&acute;s&nbsp;wait&nbsp;for&nbsp;future&nbsp;news&nbsp;on&nbsp;this&nbsp;one!!!&nbsp; <br />Posted by Ricardo_Savino</DIV></p><p>I'm sure over the next few years we will be discovering many more such systems. Each one increases the probability of finding a true earth-like life compatible planet.<br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>