Alien Super-Earth Goes Supercritical? Share | TaraStreet posted:1/26/2012 1:54:15 AM (Reply)Researchers now believe that about a fifth of planet 55 Cancri e (once thought to be mostly rocky) is comprised of light elements in a supercritical state, comparable to the condition of rocket propellent when firing from a spaceship during launch.spiritech0 posted:1/26/2012 10:24:51 AM (Reply)I'm asking this because I'm not a scientist of any sort... How in the F does anyone with a telescope on Earth know the composition of anything past Mars? Carbon-dating is questionable at best...TaraStreet posted:1/26/2012 12:13:27 PM (Reply)In Reply To:spiritech0 posted:1/26/2012 10:24:51 AM (Reply)I'm asking this because I'm not a scientist of any sort... How in the F does anyone with a telescope on Earth know the composition of anything past Mars? Carbon-dating is questionable at best...Exactly, but you know I am no scientist so perhaps my silly mind can just not comprehend such feats.sorgfelt posted:1/31/2012 5:01:52 AM (Reply)In Reply To:spiritech0 posted:1/26/2012 10:24:51 AM (Reply)I'm asking this because I'm not a scientist of any sort... How in the F does anyone with a telescope on Earth know the composition of anything past Mars? Carbon-dating is questionable at best...Each element absorbs and gives off light in very specific frequencies. By directing the light we see in telescopes of that little spec of a planet through a spectroscope, which is essentially a prism that spreads the light out on a surface like a rainbow, scientists can see sharp lines that they know from experiment are associated with certain elements.spiritech0 posted:1/31/2012 12:08:30 PM (Reply)In Reply To:sorgfelt posted:1/31/2012 5:01:52 AM (Reply)Each element absorbs and gives off light in very specific frequencies. By directing the light we see in telescopes of that little spec of a planet through a spectroscope, which is essentially a prism that spreads the light out on a surface like a rainbow, scientists can see sharp lines that they know from experiment are associated with certain elements.Thank you for keeping it simple for us, SorgFelt. Plus 1 internets for you. Please log in or become a member to add a post.
