floating planet

[crystal_stars]

Astronomers have found a planet orbiting a star in lacerta that is bigger than jupiter, but with only half the mass, so it would float if placed in water.

http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/previous/latest.html

Interesting.


C.

[okiscopey (Mike)]

So would Saturn ... averge density 0.7, water = 1

[astromark]

Thats a little misleading as you are never going to make that comparison as you go into orbit around this gas giant of little density. The point being that the composition of the gas giant is not important. Its the total mass or center of it that we need to work with when calculating orbital trajectories. To make the comparison with cork was also noted as a bit daft. I understand the need to give the public a picture they can relate to. In this case I would have thought a ball of candyflose.

[Blue Fire]

I agree that comparing it to cork can be misleading, but you have to give something to the public that they can relate to. Perhaps the news releases would have better served by also mentioning that our own Saturn would also float, thereby giving a minimum of perspective at least, while not expecting the public to appreciate the total mass as we do in this forum. I don't know if there is a solution to "misleading" news releases intended for general consumption, or if a solution is really needed since garnering interest from the public seems to be served fairly well with just the "cork" reference. As a first step, this isn't that bad - folks with piqued interest can always be easily pointed in the right direction by those with more expertise (as was done here in this forum by pointing out the total mass factor).

Hmmm... just a thought from the void of my own brain which often feels like it would float also.