Re: smallest planet to date found

No, Howard--

Our own planet Neptune is not visible to the naked eye. This one is 50
light-years away. Planets are seen by reflected light and are thousands
of times dimmer than the illuminating star. Even if somehow the
illuminating star were not there and the planet were as bright as if the
star were there, you still couldn't see it with the naked eye. In fact,
it took a very sophisticated instrument on a very large telescope to
discern its existence.

Respectfully,

--Bill Yates

Howard J. Van Till wrote:

> On 8/25/04 3:31 PM, "drsyme@cablespeed.com" <drsyme@cablespeed.com> wrote:
>
>
>>I am posting this because the article claims that the
>>planet is visible to the naked eye!
>>
>> http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2004/08/25/planet_eso040825.html
>
>
> No, it says that "It is bright enough to be seen by the naked eye." However,
> being so close in angle to a very much brighter star, it will not be
> discerned as an individual object by the naked eye.
>
>
>

-- 
--Bill Yates
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--http://www.billyates.com
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