New Planet discovered in Orion!

Interesting story here, scientists have discovered a gas giant in the constellaion of Orion:

Astronomers Discover Planet in Orion

DALLAS (AP) - Astronomers have discovered a planet orbiting a star in the constellation Orion - without ever actually seeing it. They watched the star, about 140 light-years or roughly 800 trillion miles away, and deduced the presence of a planet by how much the star wiggled.

Here is the link to the rest of the story:

cnn.netscape.cnn.com.../ff/story/0001%2F20040709%2F1600062851.htm&sc=1501&flok=NW_5-L8


I think all these new stories of planets begin discovered outside of our solar system are very exciting. It seems pretty obvious that ours was not going to be the only sun with planets, but to have the proof of so many now is amazing!

[edit on 10-7-2004 by AgentSmith]

Remember that we still can't detect earth-sized planets so we don't know how many there are those... and even these big gas giants can be detected only from closest stars.

Still interesting nonetheless, I seem to recall a line from a certain movie called Men In Black.

"There's nothing in Orion's belt, its just a star cluster"

Not Anymore Zed.

-wD

And if there are billions of planets revolving around billions of suns there has got to be life some where else.

If you think the discovery of one planet is cause for such celebration.. take a look at what NASA has instore for finding more

Planet Finder
planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov...

not to bust up a legitimate science conversation, but legends concerning the (alleged) 1954 Ike-Aliens summit/treaty discussion often paint the aliens as coming from a planet in Orion (they're described, in these urban legends, as tall greys).

Though humanoid life probably can't evolve on a gas giant, it's not unreasonable to think that there may be other planets in this system.

well the linked nasa projects.. are for finding planets.. regular ones.. and discerning their atmoshere.. we may yet discover many new wells of life