Astronomers Announce 5-Planet System

An anonymous reader writes "Astronomers have detected a record-breaking 5th planet orbiting the star 55 Cancri, 41 light years distant. This planet orbits within the 'habitable zone,' where water could presumably exist, but it's probably another gas giant like Saturn, so any liquid water would have to be on a moon. There's still a big gap between this planet and the outermost planet where no planets have been detected yet, so there could yet be a rocky planet in the system. The lead researcher said he's optimistic that 'continued observations will reveal a rocky planet within five years.'"

MORE cuts!?!?

[Nerdposeur]

When I first saw this headline, I gasped. They already eliminated Pluto - what ELSE could they disqualify!?

More news

[Skiron]

"The lead researcher said he's optimistic that 'continued observations will reveal a rocky planet within five years.'" Sylvester Stallone commented on this breaking news; "Eh?"

What record?

[teh moges]

Our solar system has more then that...

Re:MORE cuts!?!?

[Anonymous Coward]

When I first saw this headline, I gasped. They already eliminated Pluto - what ELSE could they disqualify!?

Well it turns out that Neptune was just a smudge on the lens, Mercury was just a big piece of garbage [tv.com] and Jupiter was just Rosie O'Donnell's long-lost sister.

Ewoks live on a moon

[HTH NE1]

This planet orbits within the 'habitable zone,' where water could presumably exist, but it's probably another gas giant like Saturn, so any liquid water would have to be on a moon.

Any chance they plan to name this planet Endor?

Think positively

[imsabbel]

At least after we send our greeting, it will take 2 or 3 generations for the extermination fleet to arrive....

Re:Think positively

[ashitaka]

The current generation always dumps their problems on the following generations.

A perfect spot for a rebel base!

[primenerd]

A gas giant with habitable moons. Only 41 LY away, it can't be as remote as Dantooine.

Re:A perfect spot for a rebel base!

[Anonymous Coward]

Fortunately, we're already conducting an exhaustive search of the surrounding systems.

Re:Think positively

[uniquename72]

Not if we send our greeting in the form of an extermination fleet.

Re:Starting to sound like flying cars..

[Anonymous Coward]

The discovery of an earth-like rocky planet is always five years off.

However, at least we stand a good chance of being alive when the discovery is made. (Madly knocking wood)

Whoa. Only a true uber-geek could masturbate to astronomy news.

- T