Had this one loaded earlier, but lost it somewhere. Kindly it was run through again
(COMTEX) B: Scientists Find Nine New Planets
B: Scientists Find Nine New Planets
LONDON, Aug 07, 2000 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Scientists trying to connect the
dots that make up the universe filled in key pieces of the puzzle Monday,
announcing the discovery of nine new planets that orbit stars outside our solar
system.
Scientists say the discoveries provide further evidence that the Earth and its
neighbors may not be as special as we like to think, boosting the potential for
life elsewhere in the universe.
One of the so-called exoplanets is known to be the second planet orbiting a
single star. It was only the second time astronomers have found more than one
planet orbiting a star outside our own solar system.
"The findings suggest that it's quite common to have planets around other stars,
so our solar system is not as unique as we might think," said Jim O'Donnell, a
spokesman for the International Astronomical Union. "That makes the possibility
of life in the universe more likely."
Three teams of researchers from Switzerland and the United States presented
evidence of 10 discoveries at an International Astronomical Union conference in
the northern English city of Manchester. Two of the discoveries turned out to be
the same planet.
Scientists from Switzerland's Geneva Observatory told the meeting about the
discovery of six new planets, including one that is the second orbiting a star.
The star is known as HD 83443, slightly smaller than our sun and some 141 light
years from Earth. |
