ok guys exoplanets are my turf and while this is great news its not the "holy grail" we truly seak. But its getting closer
Im encouraged by the positive responses to this news but the good stuff will happen WITHIN 5 YEARS WE WILL FIND A TRUE EARTH LIKE PLANET. (size, type
G2V star like our sun, in the habitable zone)
This discovery is amazing becuase it was thought we wouldnt be able to detect planets this small from earth based observatories. The race is
definitley on between space & ground telescoped to see who can find the 1st true "earth size" planet (between 0.75 & 2 Earth masses)
This one is 5 times the mass of earth hence the name "super earth".
Of course anything is possible and it may have life there im sure future telescopes will tell more about the conditions.
NASAs kepler telescope which launches in 2008 will bring home the bacon for exoplanet fans.

Then we will use ESA Darwin or Nasas Cronograph to
tell us about the planets atmospheres- exciting times in astronomy.
This summer ESA will announce some results from COROT. Im hoping for at least a couple confirmed true earth size planets but again they will be around
red dwarf stars like this one. Still possible of ET life but maybe trickier than our own solar system.
[edit on 25-4-2007 by yeti101]