Microlensing Uncovers Earth-Like Planet

smooth wombat writes "Using a new technique called gravitational microlensing, a team of astronomers have discovered the smallest Earth-like planet circling a star 20,000 light years away in the constellation Sagittarius. Unfortunately the planet takes ten years to circle the red dwarf and has a surface temperature estimated at -220 C which means it's just a larger version of Pluto so the chance of finding life on this planet is essentially zero."

Just like earth?

[nharmon]

Cold...inhospitable...sounds like Earth to me.

Earthlike?

[tradiuz]

So its earthlike in the fact that it is a planet, earth sized, and orbitting a sun? Thats like saying I'm hung like Ron Jeremy, in the fact that we both have a penis and are ugly as sin.

Too bad

[NitsujTPU]

Unfortunately the planet takes ten years to circle the red dwarf and has a surface temperature estimated at -220 C which means it's just a larger version of Pluto so the chance of finding life on this planet is essentially zero.

It's especially unfortunate given the ease of a mission requiring us to travel 20,000 light years from Earth, then survive 57.3 Kelvin temperatutes.

Re:Oh, Rebecca...

[garcia]

Umm...wouldn't that be the textbook definition of solid ? In the absence of any information as to the composition of the 'frozen liquid, the term 'frozen liquid' could apply equally well to any terrestrial planet.

It's obvious that they were suffering from a severe case of brain freeze from eating too many Slushies. Mmmm, red.

Of course....

[grahamsz]

it must be "mostly harmless"

Counter example

[undeadly]

"Unfortunately the planet takes ten years to circle the red dwarf and has a surface temperature estimated at -220 C which means it's just a larger version of Pluto so the chance of finding life on this planet is essentially zero."

Come on, read a few posts on Slashdot on Intelligent Design and you will know that there is no chance involved here. Absense or precense of life is by design and only those not graced by Kansas education falsly believes otherwise.

Re:Of course....

[BakaHoushi]

Assuming, that is, that you can survive -220C. Better bring a few extra towels.

Surface Temp of -220 C

[aquatone282]

" . . .has a surface temperature estimated at -220 C which means . . . the chance of finding life on this planet is essentially zero."

Obviously these researchers have never met my ex-wife.

out of curiosity...

[GungaDan]

Is there a non-chronological context for the word "ancient?"

Re:Earthlike?

[dotgain]

Imagine finding a huge ball of Mercury in space - that would be cool.

Re:Life Once Upon a Time

[bigpat]

The more novel thing (to me) would be discovering the ruins of ancient (chronologically speaking) civilization on a planet like that.

And even more interesting than that would be to discover that the planet was still inhabited, by beautiful amazonian women, and that they had sent a space ship to come get me.

Short of that, however, I'll take it as very exciting that it might be possible to use this same technique to discover more earth sized planets around other stars in the near future. So that we can use the information to target those solar system for further observation. Then maybe we can start talking about finding another civilization and planets full of sexy alien women and such.

Captain

[ch-chuck]

sensors indicate a Class-M planet, with breathable air and humanoid lifeforms that speak English, having some kind of problem that can be solved in the next 45 minutes.

Re:Wait...

[errxn]

We find it making a living from cleaning the insides of a sharks mouth.

Wait a sec, what does this topic have to do with The Apprentice?

Re:Wait...

[Tony Hoyle]

Pluto is more like a large dog...

Re:Wait...

[vsprintf]

So it's earth-like how?

Well, it sounds a lot like North Dakota, so the question becomes, can I get broadband access, and will my company pay for relocation expenses? :)