SLIDESHOW: Amazing Photos Of Planets Outside Solar System

WASHINGTON -- Earth seems to have its first fuzzy photos of alien planets outside our solar system, images captured by two teams of astronomers. The pictures show four likely planets that appear as specks of white, nearly indecipherable except to the most eagle-eyed experts. All are trillions of miles away -- three of them orbiting the same star, and the fourth circling a different star.

None of the four giant gaseous planets are remotely habitable or remotely like Earth. But they raise the possibility of others more hospitable.

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Comments

[imusintheevening]

The quest for understanding is only limited by subjugating your mind to religious doctrine.

Want to be a scientist? Observe, think, repeat as necessary.

[papapj]

Question everything. Challenge dogma and your own preconceptions. Ask Why.

Observe, assimilate and INTUIT, that's the true science.

Man know thyself and become One.

[rextrek]

Who cares about the Universe and ALL it's Un-Imaginable Wonders we can't even concieve of yet.....Gays are trying to get married! (insert sarcazm) ...seeing these pictures comfirms WHY I'm a Trekkie!

[ContraEgoiste]

Right, getting to the stars may never happen until this planet can pool its resources for such endeavors and come together as one, which is not bound to happen any time soon while we still let religious doctrine dictate the inclusion into an equal society.

So yes, star trekking will only be the realm of fantasy while we can't even evolve enough to acknowledge the equal rights of all.

[Sarahjan]

Great for Canada and for the world and for Science! Canada has been a leader in this field for the last 100 years. Moreover, these scientists are the products of Canadian public education! Thank about it.
All the more reasons why the America must stop seeking new recruits from China and strart investing in public education!

[helonias]

But what does Sara think about this

The devils shenanigans, just like dinosaur bones

[ExpatinRealWorld]

The universe is limitless, thus said Gautama Siddhartha (the Buddha) 2500 years ago.

The western mind cannot fathom that................its endless.

[ExpatinRealWorld]

so that's where Gawd hides out.

[chewie2008]

I know Scotty is enjoying this view.

[nycelite]

I don't care if these new guys are hospitable or not, it's just good to finally a glimpse at one - even though it takes a leap of Faith to believe those Scientists when they say those specks are planets.

[AmandaBC]

If you looked at the Solar System from a star far away, you'd only see Jupiter and Saturn, two gas giants inhospitable to life. As far as I know (I'm no scientist, but I'm a curious woman who loves reading about astronomy, among many things...), detecting a small planet the size of earth in another star system is way beyond our current technology.

[nycelite]

I don't disagree.

[jalyn]

Interesting how images in nature share a resemblance to living things on earth. This looks like a serpent's eye. Images of lightning resembles the human vascular system, hmmmm......maybe there is a greater force out there that is in control.

[Chaucea]

Errr...

*peers suspiciously at what really looks more like the Eye of Sauron than it does a planet and star...*

[Sanchito]

GAH! That's exactly what I was thinking! Creepy.

[incfish]

Then take off the Ring for heavens sake!

[stitchy7]

God I love science!! Oh wait, did I just say God? ha ha ha....

[AmandaBC]

"The universe is a pretty big space. It's bigger than anything anyone has ever dreamed of before. So, if it's just us, seems like an awful waste of space, right?"

-- Carl Sagan

[darthdarcy]

Ok there's 500 to 600 Billion stars in our Galaxy alone, around these stars there can be any number of planets, now that's just one Galaxy, ours the Milky Way, and there are billions and billions of these Galaxies..with even more stars than our rather small galaxy..

So what do you think the chances are that there are not other habitable planets in the Universe..?

The Universe is up to 14.6-15 billion light years large..if not larger...that's 15 billion years at the speed of light large, that's really really large..

[MagisterLudi]

Granpa Hubble done it again. The first glance of planet from another system! I AM impressed. AND surrounded by spectacular ring system to boot! Keep 'em coming. I heard about this in 2007. Why didn't they release this earlier?

[AmandaBC]

Yeah, the same Hubble the i_diot currently occupying the WH was considering putting out of service as a "cost-cutting measure." All the while, $9 billion were disappearing in thin air in Iraq and hundreds of billions were spent to mas_sacre innocent civilians who had nothing to do with 911...

[MagisterLudi]

When Canadians have the tech know-how, the money and the space capacity to do something like Hubble, then you can squeak.. Until then-- shut your trap.

[uglicoyote]

Actually, this is the planet Kolob that the Mormons have known a out for years. Just ask Mitt Romney.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolob