Kind of cool granted the temperature is well above boiling so the water would have to exist as something other than normal water.
PARIS (AFP) – Astronomers have discovered a new Earth-like planet that is larger than our own and may be more than half covered with water, according to a study published Wednesday in the science journal Nature.
The so-called "super Earth" is about 42 light years away in another solar system and has a radius nearly 2.7 times larger than that of our planet, according to the study by the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics.
The discovery of the planet, called GJ 1214b, represents a "major step forward" in the search for worlds similar to the Earth, added the University of California's Geoffrey Marcy in a commentary also in Nature.
The "newfound world" is too hot to sustain life as we know it, said the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics in a statement.
Its density suggests however it "is composed of about three-fourths water and other ices and one fourth-rock," it said. "There are also tantalising hints that the planet has a gaseous atmosphere."
Its temperature is estimated at between 280 and 120 degrees Celsius (536 and 248 degrees Fahrenheit) with its host star about one-fifth the size of the Sun, according to the scientists.
"Despite its hot temperature, this appears to be a waterworld," says Zachory Berta, a graduate student who first spotted hints of the planet's presence.
"It is much smaller, cooler and more Earthlike than any other known exoplanet," he said in the statement.
An exoplanet is one outside of our solar system.
Berta said some of the water would likely be in crystalline form that exists at pressures greater than 20,000 times Earth's sea-level atmosphere.
Its temperature is much lower than that on the only similar discovery, called CoRoT-7b, which revolves around a star that is much hotter, the scientists say.
The CoRoT-7b has a density close to that of the Earth (5.5 grammes per cubic centimetre) and seems to be rocky, while the new discovery appears to be much less dense (1.9 g/cm3).
"To keep the planet's density that low requires that it contains large amounts of water," said Marcy. "It must contain a huge amount of water, roughly 50 percent by mass."
The "wild card" is the make-up of the gases on the planet, he said.
The planet orbits every 38 hours around a small, faint star that was first spotted by eight ground-based telescopes no larger than those used by amateur astronomers, the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre said.
Its relative closeness makes its possible to study it to determine its atmosphere.
"That will make it the first super Earth with a confirmed atmosphere -- even though that atmosphere probably won't be hospitable to life as we know it," said David Charbonneau who heads the research team.
Good, now the lizard aliens won't have to steal our water.
Interesting though, that we're down to only around 3 times the size of our mudball. If they're right about the water, I've got to wonder if the size of the planet allows it to absorb, and radiate more heat. Or if it's oceans just haven't had enough time to boil off...
Rule one of Existance: Never, under any circumstances, underestimate stupidity. As it will still find ways to surprise you.
I'm not sure I'd describe this planet as "Earthlike," what with the crushing surface gravity and pressure-cooker "seas." Although it is certainly more Earthlike than most of the planets we've managed to discover.
But, now we know the science-fiction canard of a "water planet" can actually have some basis in reality...
I wonder if there are cloning facilities there...
Something about Libertarianism always bothered me. Then one day, I realized what it was:
Libertarian philosophy can be boiled down to the phrase, "Work Will Make You Free."
In Libertarianism, there is no Government, so the Bosses are free to exploit the Workers.
In Communism, there is no Government, so the Workers are free to exploit the Bosses.
So in Libertarianism, man exploits man, but in Communism, its the other way around! If all you want to do is have some harmless, mindless fun, go H3RE INST3ADZ0RZ!! Grrr! Fight my Brute, you pansy!
Coyote wrote:But, now we know the science-fiction canard of a "water planet" can actually have some basis in reality...
Actually, given how we have several large ice covered moons in our own system water planets have always looked pretty plausible. I've heard it given as one possible explanation for the Fermi Paradox; if planets with significant water are generally covered by it, then developing technology may be nigh-impossible on most worlds that develop intelligent species. Earth happens to have just enough water to support a lot of life, while leaving a lot of land.
"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs." - John Rogers
Actually other than Europa there are no large moons covered almost entirely in water ice. Even Europa is not all covered in ice. The ice forms patches on the surface. Earth has the most amount of water on a rocky body so it may be that while water may be abundant water worlds with global oceans would still be an exotic sight to behold.
I have to tell you something everything I wrote above is a lie.
Sarevok wrote:Actually other than Europa there are no large moons covered almost entirely in water ice. Even Europa is not all covered in ice. The ice forms patches on the surface. Earth has the most amount of water on a rocky body so it may be that while water may be abundant water worlds with global oceans would still be an exotic sight to behold.
Well, actually, water is the second most common molecule in the universe.
Why? Well, the three most common elements are Hydrogen, Helium and Oxygen.
Of course, Helium does not form any compounds. So we have H2 as the most common molecule, and the oxygented molecule of H2 - H2O as the second most common.
SoS:NBAGALE Force "Destiny and fate are for those too weak to forge their own futures. Where we are 'supposed' to be is irrelevent." - Sir Nitram
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"The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one." - Wilhelm Stekel
"In 1969 it was easier to send a man to the Moon than to have the public accept a homosexual" - Broomstick Divine Administration - of Gods and Bureaucracy (Worm/Exalted)
Sarevok wrote:Actually other than Europa there are no large moons covered almost entirely in water ice. Even Europa is not all covered in ice. The ice forms patches on the surface. Earth has the most amount of water on a rocky body so it may be that while water may be abundant water worlds with global oceans would still be an exotic sight to behold.
Where did you learn your astronomy? Europa is entirely covered in water ice. And under that ice is nearly a hundred kilometers of liquid water or salty slush. Only after you get past that do you get to Europa's rocky crust. For that matter, all the Galilean moons that aren't Io are completely covered in water ice. Ganymede and Callisto are covered in really dirty ice, but it's still ice. Going further out into the solar system, all the large moons of Saturn are completely covered in dirty water ice. Even giant Titan is completely covered in water ice with hydrocarbon lakes here and there for shits and giggles. Out in that part of the solar system, water and water ice plays more and more of the role that silicate rock does here on Earth.
CaptainChewbacca wrote:Triton, moon of Neptune, actually has water-vapor volcanoes which vent into its' thin atmosphere.
I thought Triton's volcanoes erupted liquid nitrogen, dust, and methane? Titan, moon of Saturn, has water volcanoes that belch methane vapor and icy slush. And Enceladus erupts water vapor from so-called "tiger stripes."
Sarevok wrote:Actually other than Europa there are no large moons covered almost entirely in water ice. Even Europa is not all covered in ice. The ice forms patches on the surface. Earth has the most amount of water on a rocky body so it may be that while water may be abundant water worlds with global oceans would still be an exotic sight to behold.
Where did you learn your astronomy? Europa is entirely covered in water ice. And under that ice is nearly a hundred kilometers of liquid water or salty slush. Only after you get past that do you get to Europa's rocky crust. For that matter, all the Galilean moons that aren't Io are completely covered in water ice. Ganymede and Callisto are covered in really dirty ice, but it's still ice. Going further out into the solar system, all the large moons of Saturn are completely covered in dirty water ice. Even giant Titan is completely covered in water ice with hydrocarbon lakes here and there for shits and giggles. Out in that part of the solar system, water and water ice plays more and more of the role that silicate rock does here on Earth.
Do they think this planet probably migrated inward then, like the "hot jupiters"? I thought that generally speaking, planets with water ice making up a significant fraction of their volume and mass (aka the big Jovian moons) couldn't form in places like the inner Solar System in our system.
“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.” -Jean-Luc Picard
"Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them." -Margaret Atwood
Sarevok wrote:Actually other than Europa there are no large moons covered almost entirely in water ice. Even Europa is not all covered in ice. The ice forms patches on the surface. Earth has the most amount of water on a rocky body so it may be that while water may be abundant water worlds with global oceans would still be an exotic sight to behold.
Europa, which holds twice as much water as all of Earth's oceans combined, is primed to support life.
NASA
Brotherhood of the Monkey @( !.! )@ To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift. ~Steve Prefontaine Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer are in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.
CaptainChewbacca wrote:Triton, moon of Neptune, actually has water-vapor volcanoes which vent into its' thin atmosphere.
I thought Triton's volcanoes erupted liquid nitrogen, dust, and methane? Titan, moon of Saturn, has water volcanoes that belch methane vapor and icy slush. And Enceladus erupts water vapor from so-called "tiger stripes."
Oooh... you're right, I confused Triton and Enceladus. I think Triton's volcanoes DO contain some water, but you're right in that its largely nitrogen.
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You kinda look like Jesus. With a lightsaber.- Peregrin Toker
I just read the paper, and they have not done atmospheric spectroscopy of the planet yet, and thus it could have a water dominated composition, but on the other hand it could be much more like a typical gas giant; they just don't know yet, as both are consistent with the observed properties of the planet and star. One interesting piece of information is that the planet is quite old, on the order of the age of the Earth.
