This blows my mind.

[kevyn]

"Scientists have identified about 200 planets outside our solar system."

-- REUTERS, Scientists surprised by data about distant planets, 2007.02.22

Is anybody else as astonished at this number as I am?

Comments

[baxil.livejournal.com]

As a ballpark figure, that sounds about right. Back when I was working in the media, I'd occasionally see stories about the latest planetary discovery; a slow but steady trickle.

Unfortunately, most of the ones they're able to see are huge gas giants - easier to detect at those ranges. Unless they've specifically mentioned it in the story, I don't think they've confirmed any Earthlike planets out there yet. That's where the real action probably is.

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

They may be gas giants, but we know from our own experience gas giants are good for life... Jupiter swallows many a comet and asteroid that would otherwise threaten the inner planets. It may be true in these other systems as well.

So the presence of gas giants might not be such a bad thing. It gives us places to look.