riboku: you just don’t man can I just bring this beautiful...
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the-star-stuff: A Field Guide to Alien Planets (January 10,...
A Field Guide to Alien Planets
(January 10, 2011)
Alien planets come in all shapes and sizes. Generally speaking, these planets — known to astronomers as exoplanets or extrasolar planets — orbit stars outside our solar system, but there are a few surprises out there. Here’s a look at the types of exotic worlds that scientists have discovered so far.
Pulsar planetsThe first true discovery of extrasolar planets came in 1994, when radio astronomers discovered worlds around the pulsar PSR B1257+12, about 980 light-years away in the constellation Virgo. A pulsar is not a normal star, but a dense, rapidly spinning remnant of a supernova explosion. The oldest exoplanet known yet, PSR B1620-26 b, nicknamed Methuselah, is also a pulsar planet, located 5,600 light years from Earth in the constellation Scorpius
Hot JupitersA “Hot Jupiter” is a gas giant that is as close or closer to its star than Mercury is to our sun. The first discovery of an extrasolar planet around a sun-like star was 51 Pegasi B, an exoplanet roughly 50 light-years away. Of the 429 exoplanets discovered to date, 89 have been hot Jupiters, most likely because their large size and proximity to their stars makes them easier to spot using current techniques.
Exo-EarthsAlthough the vast majority of the exoplanets found have been gas or ice giants, terrestrial exoplanets most likely outnumber these behemoths, and upcoming missions may soon finally discover rocky worlds the size of Earth with atmospheric conditions that mimic our own. To harbor life, these “Goldilocks planets” would have to orbit their star at just the right distance from to not roast or freeze — as well as be large enough to retain an atmosphere , but not so large as to become a gas giant.
Super-EarthsA super-Earth is a planet with a mass roughly 10 times greater than Earth’s. The first super-Earths ever found were two of the planets around PSR B1257+12. Super-Earths might be more geologically active than our planet, as astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics suggest they experience more vigorous plate tectonics because they possess thinner plates that are under more stress.
Eccentric planetsThe planets in our solar system have, for the most part, fairly circular orbits. The exoplanets found so far, however, can have far more eccentric orbits, moving in close and then far from their stars. Where a perfect circle has an eccentricity value of zero, roughly half of exoplanets seen thus far have an eccentricity of 0.25 or greater. These eccentric orbits can cause exoplanets to experience extreme heat waves.
Super NeptunesOnly one “super Neptune” has been discovered so far: In 2009, astronomers discovered a planet somewhat larger and more massive than Neptune orbiting a star 120 light-years from Earth. The solid planet earned the name “super Neptune” because it shares many of the physical characteristics of our Neptune. Neptune has a diameter 3.8 times that of Earth and a mass 17 times Earth’s, the Super Neptune (named HAT-P-11b) is 4.7 times the size of Earth and has 25 Earth masses.
Water worldsThere are two kinds of worlds that might be entirely covered with water . “One is a terrestrial Earth-like planet that’s just covered with a lot more water than our world, like the Kevin Costner movie, but is otherwise still familiar,” said astronomer Charles Beichman, executive director of NASA’s Exoplanet Science Institute. “Or you can imagine a hot Neptune which is almost totally composed of water that is close enough to its star to not be frozen, but instead have an ocean thousands of kilometers deep and perhaps an atmosphere like a gas giant’s, with lots of hydrogen and water vapor.”
Chthonian planetsSometimes hot Jupiters or hot Neptunes orbit too close to their stars, and the star’s heat and extreme gravity can rip away the planet’s water or atmosphere, leaving behind the rocky core. Scientists have dubbed these evaporated remnant cores “chthonian planets.” Their proximity to their stars could mean they are covered in lava.
Free-floating planetsThere are hints that a number of bodies with the mass of gas giants might be free-floating, rather than orbiting a star. These bodies might either have escaped from their suns or never had a star to begin with, born in star-forming regions without the mass needed to ignite.
Rogue planetsA rogue planet is a planet-sized object that has been ejected from its system and is no longer gravitationally bound to any star, so it orbits the galaxy directly. To become a rogue planet, a planetary-mass object would have to be ejected from its solar system, making it starless. This could be achieved by the competing gravitational forces of the sun and larger planets. Also known as interstellar planet, or orphan planet, a rogue planet would require geothermal activity in to sustain life without energy from a star.
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OK, the very worst part about online friends:
When they’re in crisis, you can’t go and see them in person. You can’t let them spend the night at your house. You can’t cook them dinner. You can’t go with them to a job interview. You can’t take them out for coffee. You can’t hold their hand or hug them. You can’t let them use your shower. You can’t be a physical contrast to the abusive people in their physical lives.
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maniaccatscrawlings: not-a-comedian: wunderscheisse: soporcupc...
The Flying Dutchman is one of us.
Yes, no one dare to scold the S.S Le Sign.
this took me a couple of seconds then I was like AHAHAAHAHA
At least mine have a Battle-mode >:)
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wow yuno wow
wow yuno
wow
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moeasdf: joopu: death by moe “#1 cause of death on the...
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s0ul-is-over: papoteer replied to your post: mmm
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s0ul-is-over: papoteer: s0ul-is-over: papoteer replied to your post: mmm
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s0ul-is-over: papoteer: s0ul-is-over: papoteer: s0ul-is-over: papoteer replied to your post:...
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bed
it beckons me
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have you ever: felt like a wimpy magus who can’t get his...
have you ever:
- felt like a wimpy magus who can’t get his spellworks right?
- felt like a submissive turkey who can’t keep his servant in check?
- felt like a complete mongrel?
FRET NO LONGER! INTRODUCING MONGREL REEEESCUE!
Mongrel Rescue energy drink is filled with innumerable essential vitamins and minerals straight from the gate of Babylon to energize you like a king and ensure that you don’t wimp out like a mongrel! Just drinking a bottle of Mongrel Rescue gives you awesome supremacy to rule those mongrel friends of yours and show them who’s boss!
Warning: side-effects may occur from excessive intake.
Known side-effects include:
- incessant bullying
- weird laughing/scoffing
- Seki Tomozaku’s voice screaming “mongrel” in your head
- Saber hallucinations
- feeling everyone you come across is virgin
People with Rank E Luck may experience unexpected Noble Phantasm barrages out of nowhere. Mongrel Rescue does not work on Shirou Emiya. If symptoms persist, consult your nearest fake priest.
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if you're reading this
I’m probably in some pool right now (or maybe fifteen minutes later). family suddenly decided to pull an impromptu outing.
moemine I hope you saw our new seki drink. it’s made from seki pee that comes in one different flavors. seki toilet=gate of babylon.
i dont have any moar posts in queue since everything is arush and i must go for now. prolly be back late bec mom wont let me bring phone dammit
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god-of-fries: Sexy Dark Sakura is mad Sexy. TOO SEXY
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omg wat
omg wat
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tsundereartist started following you jeanne just exactly how many blogs do you have
tsundereartist started following you
jeanne just exactly how many blogs do you have
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tsundereartist replied to your post: tsundereartist started following you jeanne just… How...
tsundereartist replied to your post: tsundereartist started following you jeanne just…
How did you know it’s me?
I have extra sensory vision
my life has always been about your unlimited blog works
actually I saw your btw post
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early sleeptimes
tomorrow is sunday
have to get up early
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More Pages to Explore .....
