"Joseph Lazio" <jlazio@adams.patriot.net> wrote in message

news:lly8nljt36.fsf@adams.patriot.net...

"R" == Rich  <someone@somewhere.com> writes:

R> In infinite wisdom Christopher M. Jones answered:

I think you want: http://exoplanets.org/msini.html The
data is suggestive, especially considering the sensitivity limits
of the instruments (...).  Other investigations, especially the
Kepler mission, will give us much better data on the abundance of
lower mass planets.

R> I'm not at all sure that this simplistic statistical treatment is
R> valid. The dynamics of planet formation are far from know, and many
R> of the gas giants are in highly eccentric orbits, which would
R> disrupt the orbits of any other planets for quite a way in and
R> out. [...]

Please explain how the orbital dynamics of these planets would affect
the measured mass distribution.

Nevertheless, the fairly limited assertion that sub-Jupiter mass
planets exist in greater abundance is pretty well supported by the
data on hand (with a few caveats).

R> Is it? I suggest that this is speculation on the order of the Drake
R> Equation, and as of yet backed by no data.

Whew!  Will somebody please explain to me why I continue to post on
this topic?  Even better, will somebody please tell me what to say?

How one can look at a mass distribution, taken from the inferred
masses of planets, and claim that it is "backed by no data" is just

incredible.

The trend seemed pretty clear ... almost a "case closed" kind of thing ...
I was thinking if "it had been a snake it would have bit someone on the
nose" ...

R> Terrestrial planets may indeed be common, but I don't see any way
R> that can be extrapolated from the data we have, and I doubt any
R> will be found at most of the stars where we have detected gas
R> giants.

Ah, good.  Given your statements above, Is it worth looking for
extrasolar terrestrial planets?

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