'Super-Earths' orbit nearby stars (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

Planet-hunters have discovered two "super-Earths" orbiting two nearby Sun-like stars.

These rocky planets are larger than the Earth but much smaller than ice giants such as Uranus and Neptune.

Scientists say the discoveries are a step towards finding potentially habitable planets - smaller planets that are comparable to the Earth.
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The scientists saw evidence of three of these "low-mass planets" orbiting a star called 61 Virginis, which is just 28 light-years from Earth and is visible with the naked eye in the constellation of Virgo.

The smallest of the three was five times the mass of Earth, and orbited the star once every four days.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8414476.stm




I know this has already been posted, but BBC did a somewhat better job of reporting. :)

[MisterP]

1. the Guide has no article on 61 Vir b: it says one of c's moons has a bed and breakfast nt

[WCGreen]

2. Turn down service?

[eppur_se_muova]

6. Can't earn that "Super-Earth" rating without it. nt

[aquart]

3. Class M planets?

[comtec]

4. 28 light-years is practically next door

and certainly within communication distance...

[Bucky]

9. Those lucky bastards are just starting to get Hill Street Blues and the best years of Dallas

(Doesn't he look a bit like Yao Ming?)

Oh, and here's another article (but this planet is 42 LY's away) ==> http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/12/super-earth/

[Angleae]

5. Orbiting the star every 4 days?

Just how close is it to it's star?

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. How earthlike can it be if it's too close, though? I mean, it may have a metal core and all but

it won't have oceans or vegetation if it's too close, right?

[Bucky]

7. I'm sorry... but there's a star named "61 Virgins"? Really? Where are the other 11?

[pokerfan]

8. I created a finder chart for 61 Virginis