Friday, April 01, 2005

Smile! You're on Candid Interplanetary Camera!

Astronomers have released what they say is the first photograph of a planet outside our solar system. The planet, circling a sun-like star known as GQ Lupi, is apparently twice the size of Jupiter, with surface temperatures above 2,000 degrees Kelvin, is approximately three times farther from its star than Neptune is from the sun, and has an orbit of approximately 1,200 years. It's also about 400 light years from here.

In related news, Richard Branson will be announcing daily service to the GQ Lupi system aboard Virgin Galactic.

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