One of these things is not like the other...
 

With apologies to Sesame Street...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7333155.stm

How does finding two large planets orbiting a star half the size of Sol qualify as a "Solar System Look-alike"?

Pure cr*p...

Well I think the story is a little hyped. But I don't think Dr Dominik is suggesting that this system is a double for our solar system just that it shares some similar characteristics. Having two large gas giants in a similar orbital pattern to ours rather than near the star as in most other cases, simply suggests that our system may not be atypical. If our system is not atypical then it increases the possibility that earth like planets may exist elsewhere.

All I can see as "pure crap" in this is that he says:

"it looks like [our] Solar System cannot be unique in the Universe."

Umm... NO **** SHERLOCK!? There's trillions of solar systems out there, and we are supposed to be the "unique" one? Right... :roll:

What I don't get is this: A star half the size of Sol, and in the same Main Sequence as Sol, cannot be more massive to allow these "gas giants" to orbit a roughly the same distance as Jupiter and Saturn do. If it were more massive, it would change the star's ability to maintain it's core temperature and that changes the radiant light and heat output accordingly. The only other explanation is that the gas giants are much lighter in their mass. The equation has to balance somewhere to achieve these orbits, more massive sun, or less massive planets.

So, what they "found" were a couple of large gas giants orbiting another star... When I read it in that context, it makes more sense than the "Solar System's 'look-alike' found" heading of the article.

People read this stuff without thinking about it, "Look Marge, they found another solar system just like ours!" Bah... I guess it's just a peeve of mine... ;)

There's no free lunch Ironman.

"We have found ****" doesn't grant you more time and money.

My complaint is not with the discovery, it's with the way the media headlines it. :damn: And I have to agree, there's not much $$$ in saying "Hey, we found a couple of largish planets orbiting a star." ;) Not enough hype in it I guess...