Glow of Alien Planets Detected...

Glow of Alien Planets Detected in 'Milestone' Observations by Robert
Roy Britt

http://www.space.com/scienceastronom...et_direct.html

2 exoplanets observed in the infra-red. One if the famous HD209458b
and the other is of a planet orignially discovered using a 4" scope.

J.

Jason H. wrote:
Glow of Alien Planets Detected in 'Milestone' Observations by Robert

The following 2 quotes are interesting :

"From the new detection, astronomers learned both planets are at least
1340 Fahrenheit (727 degrees Celsius) and have circular orbits."

"HD 209458b is arguably the most well studied extrasolar planet.
Previous work by Charbonneau and others revealed oxygen and other gases
in its atmosphere."

from

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/TECH/spa...ets/index.html

I would imagine the oxygen comes from the disassociation of water or
another inorganic process, not from organisms.

Jason H. wrote:
Glow of Alien Planets Detected in 'Milestone' Observations by Robert
Roy Britt

http://www.space.com/scienceastronom...et_direct.html

2 exoplanets observed in the infra-red. One if the famous HD209458b
and the other is of a planet orignially discovered using a 4" scope.

"Both are roughly Jupiter-sized and hot, orbiting very close to their
stars. Each completes a "year" in less than four days."


For a less than 4 day orbit, those worlds must be elliptical rather than
spherical. They must have ferocious tidal forces or be gravitationally
locked (like our moon).

If they are gravitationally locked, then there could be a 'comfort' zone
in the hot to cold gradient...

Anyone have any pointers to simulations for such systems?

Regards,
Martin

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