New Mini-Planet Is Lightweight Champ

donsutherland1 · 06-02-08, 02:53 PM

Today, Space.com reported the discovery of a exoplanet just 3 times the size of the Earth that orbits a brown dwarf star about 3,000 light years from the Earth. Some excerpts:

The super-Earth is called MOA-2007-BLG-192Lb, after its host star MOA-2007-BLG-192L, which is located about 3,000 light-years from Earth. (A light-year is the distance light travels in one year, or about 5.88 trillion miles — 9.46 trillion kilometers.)

The host star's mass is estimated to be roughly 6 percent of the sun's mass, or just below the mass needed to sustain nuclear reactions in its core, thus making it a brown dwarf...

WI Crippler · 06-02-08, 07:19 PM

Is that the smallest interstellar planet we have found thus far? I know they said that in the near future we should be able to detect earth sized planets elsewhere. Unfortunantley, Einstein and his damn physics are making it impossible for us to travel those vast distances.

DeeJayH · 06-02-08, 09:43 PM

earth is smaller than a mini planet

donsutherland1 · 06-03-08, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WI Crippler

Is that the smallest interstellar planet we have found thus far?

Yes, it is.

obvious Child · 06-03-08, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeJayH

earth is smaller than a mini planet

Check out the size of KW Sagitarri. We're like a pin prick at best compared to that.

GarzaUK · 06-05-08, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donsutherland1

The super-Earth is called MOA-2007-BLG-192Lb, after its host star MOA-2007-BLG-192L

Surely the Human Race can think of more creative names for Planets and Stars than that!!

Distant Future
~Where you going dude?
~Aw, I'm just going to MOA-2007-BLG-192L for some skiing, you in?