Re: More naked skepticism

Kavik Kang wrote:

"Michael Davis" <mdavis19@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message

news:3bf3d76936e7041e1e47b4e649c5bd03@news.meganetnews.com...

"What's more, the new planet has a circular orbit like Jupiter,
sits a Jupiter-like distance from its star, HD70642, and has no
bigger planets between it and the star, just like Jupiter.
[...]

Ok, that makes one. Like I said before. Our sort of solar system
seems to be unusual. And the orbital mechanics of having a Jupiter
size planet at a Mars-like distance are dodgy. There may be no
stable orbits in that star's life zone. So try not to get too excited.

One in only ten years of looking, and with the very first (most primitive)
device meant to look for it. It's also our neighbor,

90 light years ain't exactly just next door.

two systems with the
very thing you tried to make seem so important to the debate until shown it
had already been found.

You seem to be reading a lot more into that press release than is
actually there.

All of a sudden it's not such a big deal anymore,
huh? And two of them in such a small area of space...

90 light years is small? Do you have any concept of how many stars
there are within 90 light years of the Sun?

I'd think anyone with
an honest, unbiased interest in the subject would take that as the first
real evidence that systems similar too ours may be somewhat common,

One does not equal common, sparky.

rather
than using negative adjetives like "dodgy" and worry about other people's
level of "excitement". I am still trying to figure out what "the orbital
mechanics of having a Jupiter size planet at a Mars-like distance" has to do
with this system,

Of course you are. Like most saucer heads, you are completely
ignorant of astronomy (and no doubt all other sciences too). What
it means is that the gravitational perturbations from such a
massive planet prevent stable orbits from existing for great
distances both inward and outward from the planet. If you were to
somehow move Jupiter into the orbit that Mars now occupies,
Earth's orbit would most likely become highly unstable. In short
order (several millions of years) Earth would either be flung into
the Sun or ejected from the solar system.

For stable orbits to exist in a star's life zone, giant planets
must be far away from the star. Mars actually skirts the outer
edge of the Sun's life zone. That's way too close to put a giant
planet.

which is at a Jupiter-like distance, other than trying to
include enough techno-babble to confuse most people into thinking that you
must have said something relevant

You were confused when you got here. HTH.

--- Flush pointless whining about debunkers ---

Like I said, this is nothing to get excited about. Get back to me
when you have Jupiter type planets at Jupiter type distances from
their stars. Then you at least have the possibility of Earth type
planets at Earth like distances. Just a possibility though. That
doesn't mean the planets are actually there, let alone that they
have life on them.

--
The Evil Michael Davis�
http://mdavis19.tripod.com
http://skepticult.org Member #264-70198-536
Member #33 1/3 of The "I Have Been Killfiled By Tommy" Club

"There's a sucker born every minute" - David Hannum (often
erroneously attributed to P. T. Barnum)