GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Some science to back up the fiction

POSTED BY: STILLWATERS
UPDATED: Thursday, February 9, 2006 06:46
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 838
PAGE 1 of 1

Thursday, February 9, 2006 5:55 AM

STILLWATERS


CNN has an article about MEGA star systems (like the one in our favorite Verse)

Telescope spots two mega solar systems

PASADENA, California (AP) -- Astronomers said Wednesday they have spotted evidence of two mega solar systems -- giant stars enveloped by what appear to be huge disks of planet-forming dust.

Cloudy disks around stars are believed to represent current or future planetary systems. Our sun is surrounded by the Kuiper Belt, a disk containing dust, comets and other bodies.

Astronomers said the latest findings were surprising because such massive stars are thought to be inhospitable to the formation of planets.

"Our data suggest that the planet-forming process may be hardier than previously believed, occurring around even the most massive stars," Joel Kastner, of the Rochester Institute of Technology, said in a statement.

Results appear in the February 10 issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

The new stars were measured to be 30 to 70 times more massive than the sun. Because of the stars' size, scientists said the surrounding debris disks are larger versions of the Kuiper Belt and probably contain about 10 times more mass.

The new stars were found using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope during a survey of 60 bright stars. Kastner said the new discoveries stuck out from the rest because an analysis indicated the presence of flat disks.

Last year, another team of scientists discovered what they believe was a mini solar system. The team found a dust cloud around a brown dwarf, or failed star.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, February 9, 2006 6:46 AM

SAMEERTIA


Oh! Goodie! I was worried when I saw the topic title that it was yet another attempt to explain how Serenity flies, or what the mechanics of the 'verse are.

I suppose it says something that when I saw the article at ScienceNews yesterday, the first thing that went through my mind was "Now we just need to invent reliable terraforming!"


NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

YOUR OPTIONS

NEW POSTS TODAY

USERPOST DATE

OTHER TOPICS

DISCUSSIONS
Halloween
Wed, October 30, 2024 14:17 - 32 posts
Teri Garr, the offbeat comic actor of 'Young Frankenstein' has died
Tue, October 29, 2024 20:23 - 4 posts
Where are the Extraterrestrial Civilizations
Tue, October 29, 2024 06:05 - 50 posts
Poetry in song
Sat, October 26, 2024 20:16 - 19 posts
WHY DID THEY CANCEL THIS??? *FIREFLY* Ep 14 Reaction Movie Night with Jacqui Episode -1-14 Reaction
Thu, October 24, 2024 00:04 - 14 posts
Remembering Shawna patch
Wed, October 23, 2024 21:36 - 4 posts
Testing.
Tue, October 8, 2024 21:05 - 65 posts
Firefly Pumpkin Stencils
Mon, October 7, 2024 06:29 - 34 posts
BROWNCOAT BALL October 25-27, 2024 – BETHLEHEM, PA
Mon, September 30, 2024 10:23 - 5 posts
What is your favourite historical or war film/television show???
Mon, September 30, 2024 07:05 - 36 posts
CW app streaming Firefly for free
Fri, September 27, 2024 16:35 - 3 posts
Why isn't this a bigger story?
Tue, September 24, 2024 06:55 - 4 posts

FFF.NET SOCIAL