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The most Earth-like planet yet

Extrasolar planet grabs attention of astronomers and alien-hunters

Astronomers have found an Earth-like planet circling a dim red star not far, in galactic terms, from our Solar System. The planet, just five times the mass of our own, might be the best hope yet of a world that can support life.

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Posted by Katharine Sanderson on April 25, 2007 12:00 AM |

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This is potentially a very interesting discovery, and I congratulate those involved at Geneva and at ESO, however I must say that it is a little disappointing that it is all over the press before passing the peer-review process. Such 'publication by press release' cheapens scientific research. In particular, I would have expected a highly respected journal such as Nature to have insisted that its news articles were based on published work.

Posted by: Anon Astronomer | April 25, 2007 03:52 AM

Chiding the discoverers of this rather momentous piece of alien natural history for telling the world what they already shown their colleagues seems a bit harsh- one recalls certain cardinal's legendary reluctance to look through a telescope lest they view an officially unpublished result.

Odd the most disquieting first light since Galileo
should have departed the Gliese system as Ronald Reagan was being lambasted for the adaptive optics ridden Star Wars program, to arrive as Bush is being hooted for proposing a manned mission to Mars. One wonders what what may make of it all 20.5 reciprocal light years from now.

Posted by: Russell Seitz | April 25, 2007 01:04 PM

Physics was my major 27 years ago, I left the field as soon as graduation. Now as a veteran in the IT industry for 20 years, this news certainly rekindles the physicist in me. I think from now on I'll be a keen amateur (astro)physicist again. Well done to the scientists!

Posted by: BigKev | April 26, 2007 03:58 AM

Even if the planet is a sub-neptune or gas midget or whatever you want to call it that doesn't rule out life. The ecosystem could be airborne for example.

Posted by: chiz | April 26, 2007 08:44 AM

Hi:

I don't know why people get so shocked when, a planet is discovered.

There are billions of planets out there, alot of them with life, just like here on Earth.

Posted by: Richard Lindo, important discovery | April 30, 2007 06:13 PM

New data no one ever had before will always be big news to those who refuse to claim knowledge based only on faith, that is, to scientists.

[Editor's note: this post has been edited to avoid a personal comment]

Posted by: Tom Moore | May 7, 2007 02:13 PM

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