December 2nd, 2010 at 10:29AM
itsfullofstars: Super Earth Could Be Steaming Hot Or Full Of Gas A team of astronomers, including two NASA Sagan Fellows, has made the first characterizations of a super-Earth’s atmosphere, by using a ground-based telescope. A super-Earth is a planet up to three times the size of Earth and weighing up to 10 times as much. The findings, reported in the journal Nature, are a significant milestone toward eventually being able to probe the atmospheres of Earth-like planets for signs of life. The team determined the planet, GJ 1214b, is either blanketed with a thin layer of water steam or surrounded by a thick layer of high clouds. If the former, the planet itself would have an icy composition. If the latter, the planet would be rocky or similar to the composition of Neptune, though much smaller. Read more.

itsfullofstars:

Super Earth Could Be Steaming Hot Or Full Of Gas

A team of astronomers, including two NASA Sagan Fellows, has made the first characterizations of a super-Earth’s atmosphere, by using a ground-based telescope.

A super-Earth is a planet up to three times the size of Earth and weighing up to 10 times as much. The findings, reported in the journal Nature, are a significant milestone toward eventually being able to probe the atmospheres of Earth-like planets for signs of life.

The team determined the planet, GJ 1214b, is either blanketed with a thin layer of water steam or surrounded by a thick layer of high clouds. If the former, the planet itself would have an icy composition. If the latter, the planet would be rocky or similar to the composition of Neptune, though much smaller.

Read more.

  1. southernhemisphere reblogged this from neonstorm
  2. neonstorm reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  3. mischiefmigraines reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  4. lightningbaron reblogged this from itsfullofstars and added:
    just-as-big news that went ignored today while...mainstream press wet their pants
  5. valenzoo reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  6. spacelog reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  7. jwyman reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  8. blodappelsiner reblogged this from itsfullofstars and added:
    interesting because we could possibly find an earth-like...human life sustaining...
  9. basicblogtitle reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  10. theebbandflow reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  11. whutatrip reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  12. stonedpilot91 reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  13. monotoneheartbeat reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  14. bluelittlegirl reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  15. claudiamarie reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  16. mrs-tyler-okonma reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  17. dexysmidnighttumblr reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  18. jovimae reblogged this from itsfullofstars
69 notes Source: itsfullofstars
Short URL for this post: http://tmblr.co/ZQGqVy1xUPAH