Doubts raised about "habitable" exoplanet
Posted: Thu, Oct 14, 2010, 7:09 AM ET (1109 GMT)
An extrasolar planet with a size and orbit consistent with requirements to support life may not exist at all, astronomers said this week. Astronomers announced the discovery of the planet, Gliese 581g, late last month, with a mass as little as three times that of the Earth and an orbit that could permit the presence of liquid water. However, European astronomers said this week that they could not confirm the presence of the star in their own observations, raising doubts that the planet exists. Astronomers involved in the discovery, though, said they remain confident that Gliese 581g exists based on the combination of observations by observatories in Chile and Hawaii.
An extrasolar planet with a size and orbit consistent with requirements to support life may not exist at all, astronomers said this week. Astronomers announced the discovery of the planet, Gliese 581g, late last month, with a mass as little as three times that of the Earth and an orbit that could permit the presence of liquid water. However, European astronomers said this week that they could not confirm the presence of the star in their own observations, raising doubts that the planet exists. Astronomers involved in the discovery, though, said they remain confident that Gliese 581g exists based on the combination of observations by observatories in Chile and Hawaii.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, December 13
Press Statement on Blue Origin Bid Protest
GAO — 6:13 am ET (1113 GMT) Shanghai aims for the moon
Global Times — 6:09 am ET (1109 GMT) Probe's close shave with asteroid flyby
AFP — 6:08 am ET (1108 GMT) Near-Earth asteroid a 'rubble pile' of rock
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 6:08 am ET (1108 GMT) Reaching the Moon
CRI — 6:07 am ET (1107 GMT) |
