irokin Posted October 2, 2009 Report Posted October 2, 2009 Spied this on slashdot: The newly-discovered exoplanet COROT-7b has an unusual form of precipitation: rocks. Because it orbits so close to its sun, the temperature on its sun-facing side is around 4220 degrees Fahrenheit. That's hot enough for rocks to vaporize — not unlike water evaporating on Earth. And, like Earth, when the vapor cools in the upper atmosphere, it forms clouds and begins to rain. But instead of water, COROT-7b gets a shower of pebbles 4220degF = 2327degC http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1242-Sc...anet-that-rocks How freaking cool is that!!? Science :) Quote
TE278U Posted October 2, 2009 Report Posted October 2, 2009 you'd want to always be parking undercover... :) Quote
7shades Posted October 2, 2009 Report Posted October 2, 2009 Awesome :) Its amazing when you think about it... In a Solar system where temperatures range thousands of degrees, from absolute zero to this balmy little sunside oasis at 2300 odd degrees, the temperature range in which we carbon based squishy things can exist is almost impossibly small. Its a wonder we exist at all :( Quote
36panvan Posted October 2, 2009 Report Posted October 2, 2009 Insane aye Space never ceases to amaze me! Quote
Hiro Protagonist Posted October 2, 2009 Report Posted October 2, 2009 Just think, if it began to hail you probably wouldn't notice the difference Quote
philbey Posted October 2, 2009 Report Posted October 2, 2009 Be nicer if it hailed I suppose. Be a pleasant reprieve from the usual! Quote
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