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In this Discussion
- Betelgeuse February 23
- kensamay February 29
- Marc_Rosson February 23
- Stephen February 22
New Type of Exoplanet, a Water World
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Wow a truly alien, alien planet, one made mostly of water. GJ 1214b weighs in at 7 Earth's, and 2.7 times the diameter. Complete with a steamy atmosphere, superfuid water, and...hot ice !
This must be the weirdest place yet discovered.
http://www.spacetelescope.org/news/heic1204/ -
i was reading about this on the astronomy now website last night. exciting stuff! i think this year is going to be full of exciting discovories.
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Very interesting indeed! They are certainly making great progress with these discoveries.
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Seems as though they think it formed out in the far icy outer reaches of its system. Over eons it migrated inwards towards the star, and passed through its habitable zone where water could exist as the cool wet stuff we all know and love.
So at one time it could have actually been a global ocean planet, maybe even with life? But it looks like its present state is something totally alien to our experience, due to very high temperatures and pressures.
It must only be a matter of time before astronomers discover a truly alien ocean world in its habitable zone.
What will they find next?
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Great stuff every Planet found seems too throw up more strange & wonderful worlds.
Love it!... :)
