Floating Planet ...

[creeper]

Giant, fluffy planet discovered ...

[95EagleAWD]

So can Saturn...

[Zero102]

Is the average density of saturn less than 1g/cm^3?.... I don't know.

That is not an altogether strange thing that a planet is lighter than water. It is true for the atmosphere of almost any planet, and in the case of a gas giant (such as jupiter or saturn) where the atmosphere or gaseous part of the planet makes up a significant portion of it's volume (i.e. 90% or 95%) that can cause the average density of the planet to be very low.

Calling it a fluffy planet is just silly. It is a gaseous planet. I came across a couple interesting articles on a very similar topic recently, and it is actually a new classification of planet.
Unfortunately, when it comes to planets scientests (until recently) only had our solar system to look at. So, if we don't have one, then they don't know about it. That is why this story got enough attention to end up on cnn.

[BlueGoblin]

Originally posted by Zero102
Calling it a fluffy planet is just silly. It is a gaseous planet.

While I am all for bringing science into the mainstream media with plain, understandable English, using terminology like this is just stupid. I hate the dumbing down of science.

[h_s]

so does this replace pluto??? astronomy is fukked up

[GoChris]

Originally posted by h_s
so does this replace pluto??? astronomy is fukked up

no, this new one they discovered is orbiting another star, not our star.

[ashee]

Are they sure this "planet" meets the planet requirements?

[Supa Dexta]

^earth doens't meet them in loose terms.. Seen them going on about it on discovery the other night...

[Zero102]

The definition of planet is under revision. It is an interesting topic about a poorly defined word. To say that Earth doesn't meet the definition of planet is kind of strange.

Why the heck would it replace pluto?....
He's a big fluffy dog from the cartoons, not a planet
If they replaced him with a big cloud of gas I think the kids would notice.

[GTS Jeff]

Originally posted by Zero102
Is the average density of saturn less than 1g/cm^3?.... I don't know.

All the Jovian planets in our solar system are denser than water. They have gaseous outer layers that surround a heavy core of ice/rock/metal. Jupiter and Saturn also have some crazy liquid helium layer shiet.

[h_s]

i was wondering... did they ever make it to jupiter??? what if their is some weird gasses over there that are clean and efficient burning that we could use???

[Zero102]

Originally posted by GTS Jeff
All the Jovian planets in our solar system are denser than water. They have gaseous outer layers that surround a heavy core of ice/rock/metal. Jupiter and Saturn also have some crazy liquid helium layer shiet.

See, I would assume due to the intense gravitational fields present in the lower gaseous layers, and the large solid/liquid core that the jovian planets posess, that their average density would be far above 1g/cm^3, perhaps more like 1kg/cm^3, or if not that high at least 10 or 20g/cm^3.
I can't imagine any of them being less dense than water on average. Then again, I guess it depends how far out you measure their atmosphere....
Recall that volume of a sphere is proportional to it's radius to the 3rd power, so despite the relatively low difference in radius that encompasses the portion of their atmosphere that is indeed less dense than water, that portion of it's radius posesses a large portion of the planet's overall volume.

Gah, now I'm not sure. Don't make me think after I come home from seeing RHCP... it's not fair!!

[GTS Jeff]

Originally posted by Zero102


See, I would assume due to the intense gravitational fields present in the lower gaseous layers, and the large solid/liquid core that the jovian planets posess, that their average density would be far above 1g/cm^3, perhaps more like 1kg/cm^3, or if not that high at least 10 or 20g/cm^3.
I can't imagine any of them being less dense than water on average. Then again, I guess it depends how far out you measure their atmosphere....
Recall that volume of a sphere is proportional to it's radius to the 3rd power, so despite the relatively low difference in radius that encompasses the portion of their atmosphere that is indeed less dense than water, that portion of it's radius posesses a large portion of the planet's overall volume.

Gah, now I'm not sure. Don't make me think after I come home from seeing RHCP... it's not fair!!

Nigga please...

[Zero102]

Originally posted by GTS Jeff
Nigga please...

Cool, so it's at least close to 1







BTW, I'm white