Word: solarity
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...science today is offering an elaborately conditioned answer about where extraterrestrial life might possibly be. Two American astronomers have found a planet or two outside our solar system whereon conditions exist (liquid water the temperature of hot tea, for example) that may be hospitable to life...
Even if the new planets are sterile, though, their very existence is a powerful piece of astronomical news. If our solar system is any indication, giant, unpleasant planets are likely to be accompanied by small, friendly ones. Giant planets also tend to be attended by giant moons, small worlds in their own right, and these too could be hospitable to life. Perhaps most important, the discovery of planets around three relatively nearby sunlike stars implies that the Milky Way, 100 billion stars strong, must be bursting with other worlds. Unless the chances are literally 100 billion to one against...
Marcy and Butler's announcement could change the course of astronomy. "This is extraordinarily important," says astronomer Alan Boss of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. "This is the first glimmering we have that normal solar systems exist beyond our own." It is sure to trigger a rush to find new planets. Indeed, half a dozen teams around the world are already looking. And in an address to the astronomers a few hours after Marcy's talk, NASA administrator Daniel Goldin announced a new program whose goal, he says, will be "not only detecting but taking direct images of Earthlike worlds...
...million observation. The answer is no. Planets aren't rare after all." --San Francisco State University astronomer Dr. Geoffrey W. Marcy after announcing his identification, with Dr. Paul Butler, of two new planets in a far off galaxy which seem to confirm the plebian quality of our own solar system...
...ANTONIO: An American astronomer drew a hushed, standing room only crowd to an American Astronomical Society conference room Wednesday when he announced the discovery of two new planets orbiting stars outside Earth's solar system. Geoffrey Marcy, a professor of physics and astronomy at San Francisco State University, told the gathering of 1300 scientists that at least one of the new orbs could have water. "That means possible conditions ideal for life," says TIME's Michael Lemonick. "That's a very significant discovery since we now have several examples of large planets orbiting stars like the sun." Lemonick says...