Astronomer who rewrote the history of the Universe. He originally wanted to be a priest. Later, his mother had suffered from Church

The Great Comet of 1577, which Kepler witnessed as a child, attracted the attention of astronomers across Europe photo: wikipedia

December 27, 1571 was born Johannes Kepler, astronomer and astrologer, who discovered that the Earth and the planets move around the sun in an elliptical orbit (d. November 15, 1630)

Kepler was born  in Weil der Stadt, Württemberg, Germany, and studied since 1591 theology at the University of Tübingen. One of his teachers was Michael Maestlin, defender of the heliocentric theory of Copernicus. 

Michael Maestlin - Wikipedia

Kepler wanted to be a priest, a Protestant, but finally, with great penchant for math function supports 1594 teacher of mathematics and astronomy at the University of Graz, Austria. Here are working on a complex geometrical hypotheses aimed at explaining the remoteness of the orbits of the five planets known at that time (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn).

University of Tübingen Britannica

Kepler was a German mathematician and optician. photo: wikipedia

Kepler believes that the sun exerts a force that decreases in proportion to the removal of a planet: "Planets move accordingly on an elliptical path, the center of which is the sun." Thus states the first law of planetary motion (see Kepler's Laws), published in "Mysterium Cosmographicum" ( "The Mystery of cosmic world", 1596).

In April 1597, Kepler married Barbara Mühlek. Due to pressure from the Catholic Counter-Reformation, Kepler is forced to leave Graz and in 1600 accepted the offer to work in Prague as an assistant to Tycho Brahe, the astronomer court Emperor Rudolf II.

Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor - Wikipedia

The Galileo Project

The qualities of Tycho Brahe's observatory are now complemented with exceptional knowledge of mathematics of Kepler. After the death of Brahe in 1601, Kepler became his successor as imperial mathematician and astronomer. 

Kepler observed 1604 "Supernova 1604" and published his observations in his "De Stella Nova in Serpentarii Pede" ( "About a new star in the constellation foot serpent"). In "Astronomia Nova" ( "New Astronomy", 1609) publishes research results on the ellipse Mars and the second law states: "The planet is closer to the sun, the faster it moves." 

Remnant of Kepler's Supernova SN 1604 photo: wikipedia

In 1612 Kepler is set at Linz in Austria, where his work appears "Harmonices Mundi" ( "Harmony of the World", 1619). In the last chapter of this book, based on observations and calculations, sets out the third law of planetary motion: "The square of time of revolution is proportional to the third power of the average distance between a planet and the sun."

In the years 1615-1620 Kepler had to defend his mother, who was accused of witchcraft. He eventually managed to obtain her release, but without being able to prevent the torture was subject, following which she died a year later. Kepler lived in an era of intolerance, struggles between Catholics and Protestants during the Thirty Years' War, was forced repeatedly to flee to escape persecution, although his attempts to remain neutral.

His last major work, published in his lifetime yet is Tabulae Rudolfinae (1627), which contains tables that describe the movements of the planets. It will be the basis for any astronomical for the next 200 years. In his theory of gravitation forces, Isaac Newton relied heavily on Kepler's observations.

Apart works of astronomy, Kepler described a process for determining the volumes on which will develop integral calculus. He also studied symmetry of snowflakes and calculated the natural forces involved in the growth and geometric structures that will be applied in the study of crystallography. He worked in the field of optics, which to remember his invention called "Kepler's telescope."


Johannes Kepler died on November 15, 1630 in Regensburg, Germany, aged 59 years. In his memory, the University of Linz called "Johannes Kepler Universität,".

Invenit Mundo presents major historical significance of the day December 27:

1585 - He died Pierre de Ronsard, the French poet, the main representative of the Pleiades (sixteenth-century French literary school) ( "Ode", "Hymns") (b. September 11, 1524)

1717 - was born Pope Pius VI (d. 1799)

1784 - peasant revolt led by Horea, Closca and Crisan, broke out November 2nd. 1784. Horea and Closca are trapped in the forest in the mountains Scoruşet Gilău, then imprisoned at Alba-Iulia

1806 - Constantine Ypsilanti returns to Bucharest. He organizes an army intended to enable the realization of his plan, establishing a kingdom of Dacia format Moldovan and Romanian Country Serbia

1816 - Held at the initiative of Gheorghe Asachi Iasi first theater performance in Romanian: "Mirtil and Hloe" pastoral in one act

1822 - Louis Pasteur was born chemist and biologist, member of the French Academy; He discovered the nature of infectious diseases of humans and animals and rabies vaccine (applied for the first time in 1885), thereby laying the foundations of immunology; established conservation beer pasteurisation method (d. September 28, 1895)

1831 - Charles Darwin embarked on his historic journey aboard the HMS Beagle royal

1832 - was born Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov, Russian critic and humorist, founder of the art gallery that bears his name

1896 - He was born American novelist Louis Bromfield (d. March 18, 1956)

1897 - VIANU Tudor was born, poet, philosopher and esthetician Romanian member of the Romanian Academy; He was director general of the National Commission for UNESCO director general of the Romanian Academy Library, Director of the National Theatre in Bucharest; wrote aesthetic and stylistic studies, memoirs, analyzed in terms of aesthetics Romanian literary phenomenon and universal ( "Art and beauty," "Art Romanian prose writers") (d. May 21, 1964)

1901 - Marlene Dietrich was born, legendary figure of cinema, film actress, theater, music hall, vaudeville singer (movies: "Blue Angel", "stigma of evil") (d. May 6, 1992)

1909 - D.A. Sturdza, due to sickness, withdraws from the party and the leadership of the PNL; I.I.C. Brătianu was appointed prime minister

1925 - He died Sergei Aleksandrovich Yesenin, Russian poet, one of the most sensitive of the village evocators Russian (committed suicide) (n.1895)

1945 - Establishment of the World Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a result of the UN Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods (1 to 12 July 1945). Romania became a member of the two financial institutions to December 15, 1972

1977 - A Ciucurencu Alexander died, painter, member of the Romanian Academy; In 2003, UNESCO included in the calendar of cultural anniversaries and name Alexander Ciucurencu, marking 100 years since the birth of the painter (b. September 27, 1903)

1978 - In Spain establishes democracy after 40 years of dictatorship

1989 - In the first plenary NSFC was adopted Decree-Law no. 2 on the establishment, organization and functioning of NSFC and territorial councils of the NSF; also he was elected Executive Office of NSFC: President - Ion Iliescu; First Deputy Chairman - Dumitru Mazilu; Vice - Cazimir Ionescu, Karoly Kiraly; Secretary - Dan Martian; members - Teodoriu Bogdan, Vasile Neacsa, Silviu Brucan Manole Gheorghe Ion Caramitru, Nicolae Radu

1991 - It was open to the public, the Cotroceni National Museum, established on July 10, 1991

1995 - The Bosnian government army and Bosnian Serb forces evacuated the key positions on the front lines around Sarajevo

1998 - The European Commission approved the creation of a common bank, based in Vienna, by the third private bank German Dresdner Bank and National Bank of Paris (BNP), which aims to administer the activities of the two institutions in Europe East

2004 - Viktor Yushchenko has claimed victory in the presidential elections in Ukraine


2006 - Finished the former US president Gerald Ford life. He was the only president who was directly elected for the posts of president and vice president of the United States.


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• 10 fascinating planets outside the Solar System

A new study supports the possibility of life on Mars

In a new study published in the journal Astrobiology were analyzed in the course of forty years on the Red Planet. They believe that the existence of microbial life on Mars is possible.

The research is based on experiments carried out by the Labeled Release (LR) using Viking Mars probe landing, at the end of 1970. LR was created to search for chemicals produced by living organisms. The probe found several chemicals, according to the authors compiling the report in 1976, Gilbert Levin and Patricia Ann Straat. However, the results were classified as inconclusive.

The same researchers have worked on the new study reviewed information provided by Viking, combining them with recent results from missions of discovery of water on Mars. Experts have concluded that biological hypothesis is still valid.

In the experiments conducted by the LR, Mars soil samples were inoculated with a drop of a diluted nutrient solution attached to a radioactive carbon isotope. Air above the sample was monitored, and scientists have detected radioactive isotopes in samples of carbon dioxide. When they repeated the experiment, a week away, they found the same phenomenon.

Alternative hypothesis suggests that there is an oxidizing agent that changes in the carbon dioxide compound. The same results can be observed in the case of peroxide compound.

Although evidence from Viking ,, not provide sufficient evidence of life on Mars, the paper highlights the fact that there is such a possibility, '' said Chris McKay, Editor in NASA Ames Research Center in California.


Other articles on the same theme:

• NASA announced the next mission to Mars
• Elon Musk announced great mission on Mars. When it launches and what purpose
• Water existed on Mars billions of years before scientists about the phenomenon
• Mars could support extraterrestrial life. A new image published by the European Space Agency shows the place that would have hosted life

Source:  IFL Science

Mars could support extraterrestrial life. A new image published by the European Space Agency shows the place that would have hosted life

The European Space Agency has revealed a new image of a valley on the Red Planet which in future could be landing site ExoMars mission in 2020.

The area has photographed over 5309 square meters and is surrounded Mawrth Vallis valley where ancient water on the surface structured forms that can be observed today. The researchers believe that this valley would have existed 3.6 billion years ago life.

Mawrth Vallis valley has a length of 600 kilometers, its depth is almost one kilometer. A long time ago, huge quantities of water passing through the area. The valley is located between the southern and the northern hilly plains, according to ESA.

Structures with lighter tones of color are made of clay minerals, indicating the presence of liquid water. According to NASA, the remains of volcanic ash in the form of ancient microbes may protect black rocks of clay. To create this image, the researchers combined nine images taken by high resolution camera probe Express.

The ship orbited the red planet in 2003, Mawrth Vallis and the valley was an important point of interest. Earlier this month, it was revealed that Mars was covered by a network of lakes and rivers with a billion years earlier than scientists had thought, which implies that Mars could support life. ,, I discovered valleys that would transport the water to the basins of lakes, '' said Sharon Wilson, Institutlui of the Smithsonian, Washington.

Wilson and his team have helped these conclusions through evidence uncovered in northern plant, Arabia Terra region.


,, One of the lakes in the region can be compared in volume with Lake Tahoe in California, Nevada, '' said Wilson

Source: Descopera

Elon Musk announced great mission on Mars. When it launches and what purpose

Elon Musk is ready to reveal his grand plan about colonizing Mars.

Billionaire entrepreneur who said several times that he founded SpaceX in 2002 specifically to help the colonization of Mars offered new details about the Red Planet, postings on Twitter and conferences and interviews.

He recently announced that SpaceX wants to launch its first mission to Mars in less than two years in May 2018. In its unmanned probe, Dragon will land on Mars to test landing system and other technologists that will involve manned missions will need.

The supersonic retropropulsoarele insecure ,, '', with which Dragon will slow down when you will enter the Martian atmosphere. But if the tests are successful, the Red Dragon will be just the beginning of the company SpaceX missions to Mars.

,, What I'm saying is that we have established a cargo route to Mars, '' said Musk. ,, It will be a safe route that will take place every 26 months. It will be like a train station, where researchers will consider safe will choose, because it will be much cheaper than other means of this kind exist today, '' he added.

In 2020, the company plans to launch an unmanned Dragon capsule using two Falcon rockets. 2022 will launch unmanned capsule, but other purposes, it will build architecture SpaceX colony on Mars that Musk recently baptized him Interplanetary Transport System (ITS).

Musk said he wants to carry through SIT Mars more people. But his plans are more ambitious. It wants to achieve a permanent settlement to be used when the Earth will no longer be inhabited.

new Interplanetary Transport System

Story source: 


The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Space  . Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

IMPRESSIVE discovery on Pluto. How will it affect the planet's atmosphere?

After Pluto was no longer called planet, this was the highlight for scientific discoveries.

Discovering New Horizons probe conducted and other studies of Pluto changed the ideas we had about dwarf planet researchers.

Now a team of researchers has discovered something remarkable: Pluto emit X team used data from NASA's Chandra Observatory, which showed four times, from February 2014 to August 2015, that Pluto emits low-energy photons X-ray light

,, We first detected X-rays which are emitted by an object in the Kuiper Belt Pluto and I understand that interacts with the solar wind in an unexpected way, '' said Carey Lisse, leader of the team that conducted the study.

Impressive aspect is that photons of low energy could come from solar winds entering the planet's atmosphere pitice.Combination nitrogen, carbon and oxygen likely attract photons from the solar wind, creating beacons of radiation X.

X-ray detection and provides information about how Pluto works. If X-rays are created disintegrated in the atmosphere mean that Pluto's atmosphere burns slowly in space.

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• 4,000 confirmed exoplanets similar to Earth

• 10 fascinating planets outside the Solar System

Source: Futurism

NASA announced the next mission to Mars

In March 2016, the launch of the probe from NASA, InSight has been postponed due to an error. The ship was to examine the interior of Mars.

But NASA said recently that mission launch will take place on May 5, 2018, will arrive on Mars after almost seven months, on November 26.

InSight is a stationary probe that will pierce the surface of Mars to five meters deep, to measure the temperature of the planet. Mission previously was postponed because of a breakage of the void that was discovered at one of the instruments probe called Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure, which was to detect signals of earthquakes on Mars, the impacts from meteorites and other phenomena, such as sandstorms and landslides.

Launch to Mars can only occur at certain times when the planets are aligned in a certain way for the probe to reach the destination quicker. NASA warned that delaying the mission could affect other missions. The initial budget for the mission was 675 million dollars, the delay will cost another 153 million dollars.

Source: IFL Science

Unusual phenomenon on the surface of one of Jupiter's moons. It's happening every 42 hours

Io, the third largest satellite of Jupiter (Photo: sen.com/NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

The process was known by researchers, but could be noticed only recently.

Atmosphere Io, one of the largest moons's Jupiter, freezes and thaws every time the subject comes from cosmic giant planet. The phenomenon of extreme cooling takes about 2 hours, out of the 42 that Io makes a complete orbit around Jupiter. It is the first time scientists were able to observe this process.

Io's atmosphere is composed mostly of sulfur dioxide formed during volcanic eruptions on Jupiter. Until now it was assumed that Io's atmosphere turns into ice during the 2 hours that satellite is in the shadow of the planet, but no one has managed to prove this.

Recently, a team of astronomers led by Constantine C.C. Tsang used ground-based telescopes to observe the natural satellite of Jupter. With this device could emit infrared specialists, which once reached Io's atmosphere, they were absorbed by sulfur dioxide. In this way, the researchers were able to measure the surface temperature of cosmic object.

It has been found that, when Io is behind Jupiter, the surface temperature of the satellite decreases from -146 degrees to -168, making the atmosphere of Io to freeze the extent of about 80%. After two hours the object is in this state, the sulfur dioxide contained in atmosefera evaporated and converted back into gas.


            Jupiter Moon Io

Scientists say that recent results will help us to better understand the system in which the center is Jupiter. In this regard, experts have already estimated that over half of sulfur dioxide from volcanoes on Io propelled arrive, finally, to circulate around the gas giant.


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A special cosmic phenomenon will happen in August.The Event Will Be seen from anywhere in the world, with the naked eye.

In case you missed alignment of the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn earlier this year, you'll have the opportunity to be witnessing a similar event to be held in August. The same five planets will be visible after sunset and before sunrise is not, as has been the case with previous phenomenon.

According to researcher Dr. Alan Duffy (Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia), planetary alignment can be best seen in August 21.

The astronomical phenomenon can be observed most clearly after sunset, at which Mercury and Venus will be at the smallest distance from the solar orb. For example, Venus will be positioned at a time, at an angle of only 10 degrees from the sun.

Venus and Jupiter will be most easily seen with the naked eye, since they are some of the largest cosmic objects in the Solar System. Mercury, Mars and Saturn will be also sighted in the sky, but they will be less visible.

The alignment of Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn can be seen from any place on Earth, and if you miss and this event will have the opportunity to witness one similar to what will occur in October 2018





Source: iflscience.com

10 fascinating planets outside the Solar System !

Extra-solar planets or exoplanets are planets located outside our solar system. When PSR1257 and PSR1257 + 12 B + 12 C (use uppercase for the first exoplanets discovered, as it was in force current terminology), and then 51 Pegasi b, the first exoplanet whose existence was confirmed, were discovered in the early 1990s, the success has been proclaimed as the most significant performance discovery in astronomy after Copernicus's heliocentric system.

51 Pegasi b discoverry

The allegations have created a tumult in the scientific world, reviving hopes of finding Earth-like planets, life forms probably outside the Solar System. Prior to these findings, the extrasolar planets were considered by astronomers known as non-existent, and their mere mention was fiction, so that no respectable scientist has not taken seriously until recently.

Since the advent of science exoplanetare study these celestial bodies evolved rapidly into a new branch of astronomy, cataloging more than 400 planets (30 of them documented in a single month, October 2009), only that many of them were in disappointingly, similar to the first: the hot gas giants orbiting close to their stars and revolutions taking only a few days.

The most plausible explanation for this is that the indirect method of detecting exoplanets is based on the hypothesis of the existence of massive objects with small orbital periods, which make them easy to identify. However, from time to time, with advanced technology and innovative methods, detection capability increases, so we have a few surprises:


The oldest planet

PSR B1620-26 b (found: May 30, 1993, state: July 10, 2003)
PSR B1620-26 b, nicknamed "Methuselah" after the famous biblical character who had lived nearly a thousand years, is the oldest exoplanet discovered with the age of 13 billion years. Considering that the universe itself does not exceed than 700 million years the leat, PSR B 1620 is likely to have even absolute record for the oldest existing planet.

Astronomical body was discovered in the center of what is called "globular cluster" of stars, cosmic entity made ​​up of the first stars formed immediately after the Big Bang. And based on what we know about planet formation, they are born shortly after the star around which orbits, so if exoplanet's star is as old as the universe, the planet gives him detour is characterized by a similar age .

PSR B1620-26 b 

PSR B1620-26 b photo: exoplanetkyoto.org

"Methuselah" was recognized as a planet only in 2003, confirming a sweet nectar dripped into the ears of planet hunters. The reason? If the planets could form as soon as the stars immediately after the Big Bang, also means that the universe is full of astronomical bodies waiting to be discovered.


The nearest exoplanet

Epsilon Eridani (Epsilon Eridani b, discovered on August 7, 2000)

It is situated at a distance of "only" ten light-years from Earth and is actually a system of planets, description employed and to define your own solar system. The name "Epsilon Eridani" stands for paternal star, or "sun" this "gear" cosmic, the composition of which is supposed to enter two worlds: one of them confirmed, Epsilon Eridani b, and the other not certified yet, Epsilon Eridani C.

Epsilon Eridani System is Remarkably Similar to Our Own photo: Sci-News.com

Join all these form the nearest planetary system in the universe. The whole surrounding Epsilon Eridani is even two asteroid belts, one indoor, between Epsilon Eridani b and star, and the other outside, between EE b and e.e. c, plus a cosmic dust ring beyond the orbit of Epsilon Eridani c, resulting probably from the impact of two comets.

Exoplanets with most suns
Aquarii b (16 Nov 2003)

When it comes to planets, we are accustomed to viewing an image in which several such heavenly bodies revolve around the sun in an monostelar.

Well, it seems that, in fact, an impressive number - about 50% of cases - the stars we see in the night sky are star systems, or groups of two or more incandescent orbiting the common center their masses.

Naturally, the reason that our eyes perceive these compounds as single light dots is due to the huge distance that separates us from them. In the system there are five star 91 Aquarii.

In November 2003, it was discovered that a gas giant planet orbiting the star 91 Aquarii the main planet is named 91 Aquarii Ab so that it can be distinguished from stars in the system, leaving room for possible undiscovered planets in the same gear.

Gas giant is special because detection methods surrounded by stars exoplanets requires absolute precision - often futile anyway - so by the 91 Aquarii Ab is one of the few planets discovered in such conditions.

Infrared detector of NASA's Space Telescope Spitzer found substantial amounts of rock evaporated together with the solidified lava fragments, known as Tekt and is formed generally as a result of impacts from meteorites.

However, the existence of such material in a quantity enough to block the glow of a star indicates a greater impact, as only a planetary collision could be.

According to this discovery, interplanetary collisions are not so unusual a phenomenon in the universe, supporting it by default, and the widespread theory that the Earth's moon itself appeared as a result of a similar event in the distant past. Moreover, computer simulations have predicted the possibility of future collisions in our solar system sometime in the next three billion years.

Twin planet to Earth
Gliese 581g (discovered in September 2010)

Recently discovered Gliese 581g, a planet the size of Earth, located in the habitable zone of its star, could host liquid water can be a life environment. If suspicions were confirmed, I have to do with the planet most similar to Earth and also the first case of alien orb with potential for human habitat.

Successful discovery of Gliese 581g is based on 11 years of scrutinizing the cosmos made ​​with the WM Observatory Keck in Hawaii. The performance started with the discovery astronomers red dwarf Gliese 581, two new planets orbit.

Among these, the most interesting turned Gliese 581g, with a mass three to four times that of Earth and a revolution period of only 37 days. Estimates indicate that its mass is probably about a solid planet with a definite surface and that it has sufficient gravitational force to maintain an atmosphere.

The planet is to its star, somehow, what is Terra Luna in that rotation around its axis of Gliese 581g coincinde to revolve the planet, so it is a hemisphere permanently facing light the other is forever steeped in gloom.

Researchers estimate that the average temperature of the outer body surface ranges between -31 and -12 degrees Celsius. Of course, absolute temperatures range from the mid from Star heat and cold on the dark surface.

The gravity of the surface of Gliese 581g may be similar or greater than that of the loose earth, such that a person would easily be able to move on two feet on the surface of the planet.

Super-Earth covered by lava
COROT-7b (found on 3 February 2009)

European astronomers discovered by COROT satellite, a Super Earth several times more massive than Earth, only 475 light years from Earth.

Researchers claim that the exoplanet, named COROT-Exo-7b is not yet even the most pleasant place to visit. Although at first glance, there is water on Exo-7b, this is a borderline state between gas and liquid due to the huge mass of lava that covers celestial body.

It is possible that the Exo-7b have been a frozen planet that has migrated through its own solar system, turning, upon heating, a huge water planet. Most likely, it was formed inside a gas giant, as appropriate Earth, Venus, Mercury and Mars. It is almost certain, however, that Exo-7b is in the same situation it was in the earth immediately after its formation, many experts believe.

The first planet photographed
Fomalhaut b (discovered on 13 November 2008)

Direct observation of exoplanets is so difficult that was compared with the pursuit of flying insects in the right of a reflector in a hazy day, from a distance of several kilometers. For this reason, the first image of a planet that is outside our solar system captured by Hubble, is paramount.

Called Fomalhaut b, exoplanet is the size of Jupiter, and a possible ring system orbiting the star Fomalhaut. Astronomers inferred its existence since 2005, based on gravitational forces in the area, but it is the first case in which they failed to achieve a proper picture.
Visibility on Fomalhaut b is hampered by a ring of dust surrounding the star that he owns.

 The latter has an age of 200 million years and is 16 times brighter than the Sun. Astronomers have approximated it will explode into a billion years in age rather than for a star. Although performance Hubble planet Fomalhaut b would have remained hidden had it not been so wide orbit around its star.

SurvivorV391 Pegasi b (discovered in March 2007)

This gas giant was found orbiting a white dwarf - a sort of dead star - which means that at some point in the past, during the red giant phase of the star (a red giant is a large dying star, preceding phase transformation into white dwarf) planet must have reached the surface of the sun or even have them inside your body orbiting astronomical dying.

Planet Survivor photo: Science News for Students

It is an event that is likely the planets of our solar system, including Earth, it is believed that our sun will enter the red giant phase sometime in the next five billion years, increasing its volume possible until assimilate orbits close to him, researchers believe that the sun could reach even to the orbit of Mars now.

Normally, many planets as "occupied" can fall apart, but others can keep the structure unchanged, as is the case of V391 Pegasi b, baptized, therefore, survivor. However, even if the earth will prove the same strength and survive in the sun become a red giant, its surface will be completely sterilized of huge temperatures.

Another gas giant "special" in the sense that its orbital plane aligns perfectly with our vision, so can be seen from Earth, the planet HD209458 b

Movement of "transition" of the planet through the right side to its star that we oriented afford to accurately calculate a size - by analyzing the amount of starlight blocked - and more importantly, to determine its atmospheric composition spectroscopy study interaction between radiation and matter (in this case, the interaction of gases and vapors in the atmosphere of the planet and its sun starlight).

Hubble measures atmospheric structure of extrasolar planet HD 209458b photo: ESA/Hubble

With this method, researchers have detected the presence of sodium and, more recently, in October 2009, and that of water vapor, carbon dioxide and methane in the upper atmosphere of the planet. This is the second astronomical body which was found to possess organic compounds, HD 189733 b was the first planet discovered by humans which is characterized by it.

First 'Super-Earth'

Mu Arae c (discovered on 25 August 2004)

The planet's first "super-Earth" (or large rocky exoplanet) found, has brought researchers closer to discovering Earth-like planets outside the Solar System.

A "super-Earth" is defined as an exoplanet with mass between the Earth and the giant planets in our solar system. Why are these planets are considered to be "rock"? Weak gravitational force of an object the size of Earth materials tends to attract mainly massive, dense (rock and metal), and much less light materials such as gases, which are easily scattered radiation of astronomical phenomena such as stars, escape atmospheric or strong impacts with asteroids.

As this solid protoplanet increases, reaching a mass close to that of Jupiter's gravitational pull allows you to draw more objects on its surface and take captive the light gases, thus creating a spiral will turn in finally, another giant planet gas.

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• 4,000 confirmed exoplanets similar to Earth

• A new theory on the Creation of the Universe, disprove the Big Bang

• Astronomer who rewrote the history of the Universe. He originally wanted to be a priest. Later, his mother had suffered from Church