Planetary System Similar to Sol

sgtwilko writes "The BBC News site has an article about how astronomers have found several new planets including some that have a similar distribution to our own Solar System. They are finding planetary systems that are more and more like the one in which the Earth resides. It's only a matter of time until the Terrestrial Planet Finder program gets going and finds another Earth." There's another story on space.com. Update: 06/13 21:51 GMT by M : Space News and Wired have stories as well, with spiffy graphics and artists' renderings and so on.

WOOHOO!

[Bob McCown]

First we find the big planets

Then we find the small planets

Then we find the ones with intelligent life

Then we communicate

Then...

Alien Pr0n!

As it turns out..

[iforgotmyfirstlogon]

It is all just a hoax. As it turns out, a group of rival scientists went up into space and just put a REALLLY big mirror up there.

- Freed

Well... It'll just have to go.

[Rothfuss]

Start building the fleet!

I recommend employing shiny white robots as our attack force.

-Rothfuss

Re:WOOHOO!

[daeley]

Jack Handey had it right:

"I don't think I'm alone when I say I'd like to see more and more planets fall under the ruthless domination of our solar system."

"Whether they find a life there or not, I think Jupiter should be called an enemy planet."

"I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it."

Great!

[Procrasturbator]

Soon, environmentalists won't be able to tell us not to pour motor oil down the sink because "It's the only planet we have".

Re:WOOHOO!

[Ztream]

That's about time, I've already seen all the pr0n *this* world has to offer.

Re:WOOHOO!

[Dimensio]

Then we find the ones with intelligent life

I think that the sticking point will be here. I'm not yet convinced that even one such planet exists within the entire universe.

Re:WOOHOO!

[EverDense]

news://alt.binaries.erotica.alien news://alt.binaries.erotica.alien.tentacles news://alt.binaries.erotica.alien.bugeyed news://alt.binaries.erotica.alien.greys news://alt.binaries.erotica.alien.yoda news://alt.binaries.erotica.alien.yoda.sucks

Still waiting...

[Peale]

It's only a matter of time until the Terrestrial Planet Finder program gets going and finds another Earth

Yep. And when that happens, I'm leaving.

How to test for intelligent life...

[Anonymous Coward]

Send a lawyer. If he doesn't come back, the locals were probably intelligent enough to kill him.

Re:WOOHOO!

[Anonymous Coward]

you have way too mmuch time on your other hand.

Re:WOOHOO!

[unicron]

Nothing will EVER be funnier than:

"Often, children will ask me where does rain come from, and I reply 'God is crying' and if they ask 'why is God crying' I always say 'I don't know, but it's probably something you did'"

Re:Incidentally...he's dead

[Anonymous Coward]

Just because he made fun of telephone handset cleaners doesn't mean you should be ashamed of your job. It just means you would be better off dead. Why do I think that is your ideal career? Because you're obviously too stupid to be a hairdresser and plainly lack the vocal skills of a salesman.

Re:Still waiting...

[namespan]

Yep. And when that happens, I'm leaving.

Not if you have kids, you aren't.

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"How much longer?"

"I just told you, we've got at least 75 light years!"

"But I have to go!"

"Dammit, if I have to decelerate below .5 c again, so help me..."

Re:Well... It'll just have to go.

[Dirtside]

No, no, we'll just use clones, they're more efficient -- and hey, I hear that the Kanadians just happen to have a fully-trained clone army ready to go. Man, those Kanadians are excellent cloners.

What? I've only seen it three times, why?

Re:another earth...

[fgb]

Yeah, and it's populated by by people who are exact duplicates of people who currently live on Earth. The big difference is that they are the exact opposite of their Earth counterparts and have goatees and mustaches... wait, no! that's a Star Trek TOS episode.

Can someone please tell me...

[CONTROL_ALT_F4]

When are we going to find the planet that is inhabited by beautiful women who love scientists, engineers, and computer geeks?

"Captain's Journal. Stardate...uh..."

[Erotomek]

Zapp: "Captain's Journal. Stardate...uh..."
Kif: *sigh* "April 13th."
Zapp: "April 13.2! We have failed to uphold Brannigan's Law. However, I did make it with a hot alien babe. And in the end, is that not what man has dreamt of since first he looked up at the stars? Kif, I'm asking you a question."
Kif: *sigh*

(audio version [gotfuturama.com])

Re:What do Christians think about this?

[hplasm]

Or would that be Altair boys...?