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General Discussion => Science & Nature => Topic started by: sam on July 16, 2010, 02:37

Title: Superhot Planet Likely Possesses Comet-like Tail
Post by: sam on July 16, 2010, 02:37

Quote

As if the debate over what is and what is not a planet hasn't gotten confusing enough, Hubble Space Telescope astronomers have now confirmed the existence of a tortured, baked object that could be called a "cometary planet." The gas giant planet, dubbed HD 209458b, is orbiting so close to its star that its heated atmosphere is escaping away into space. Now, observations by the new Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) aboard NASA's Hubble suggest that powerful stellar winds are sweeping the castoff material behind the scorched planet and shaping it into a comet-like tail.

http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2010/21/

Title: Re: Superhot Planet Likely Possesses Comet-like Tail
Post by: Clive on July 16, 2010, 07:45

Good heavens!  Wouldn't it just be easier to call it an incredibly  large comet?  ;D

Title: Re: Superhot Planet Likely Possesses Comet-like Tail
Post by: sam on July 16, 2010, 13:52

no.  8-)

Title: Re: Superhot Planet Likely Possesses Comet-like Tail
Post by: Clive on July 16, 2010, 17:26

I thought you might say that.   ;D

Title: Re: Superhot Planet Likely Possesses Comet-like Tail
Post by: Simon on July 16, 2010, 21:18

Another nice desktop!  ;D

Title: Re: Superhot Planet Likely Possesses Comet-like Tail
Post by: sam on July 17, 2010, 04:59

Quote from: Clive on July 16, 2010, 17:26

I thought you might say that.   ;D

good.