In alt.alien.visitors Michael Davis <mdavis19@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
: Indrid Cold wrote:
:> Michael Davis wrote:
:> 
:>>Cliff Smith wrote:
:>>
:>>>Here are some of my thoughts on the existence of alien life.
:>>>
:>>>In assessing the probability of other advanced civilisations existing
:>>>elsewhere in the galaxy, it's important to maintain both a sense of
:>>>perspective and a firm grasp of the laws of physics and chemistry, at least
:>>>as far as they are currently understood.
:>>>So far, 115 planetary bodies with a mass less than 18x that of Jupiter have
:>>>been discovered orbiting Sun-like stars relatively (in astronomical terms)
:>>>close to our own. The search is ongoing, and detection techniques are being
:>>>constantly refined.
:>>
:> ((({<snip>}))) 
:> 
:>>The main problem is that the giant planets found to date would
:>>make it impossible for Earth-like planets to exist at Earth-like
:>>distances from the stars. It is beginning to look like our solar
:>>system really is unusual in its layout of giant planets far away
:>>from the star and small rocky planets close in. The planets being
:>>discovered show just the opposite pattern.
:> 
:> 
:> There will be a quiz!
:> 
:> http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/03/pr0373.htm
:> Our solar system has a twin
:> By Leigh Dayton
:> July 4, 2003
:> 
:> "ASTRONOMERS are a step closer to finding a solar system that 
:> could support life - and it's just a hop, skip and jump from 
:> us in cosmic terms.
:> 
:> "They have discovered a giant gas planet like Jupiter in the 
:> constellation Puppis, just 90 light-years away. 
:> 
:> "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.

WOW! Mikey almost admitted he was wrong. . .but quickly recovered with some
hand waving and speculations. . .

Garry <dodgy, may, try>