Massive planet discovered

Originally posted by googlefudge
Assuming similar density then you would expect it to have 11 times the volume or appx 2.22 times the radius.

You can get all the details from the pre-publication article here

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1312.1265v1.pdf

Yeah, I just stuck my finger in the air and did an estimate. Even 2.2 X jupiter makes it about 300,000 km wide. A giant by any means.

For those who want a less technical version of the story that's still reliable.

Phil Plait "Bad Astronomer" just bogged about it.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/12/09/exoplanet_direct_photo_of_a_planet_challenges_formation_theories.html

Originally posted by googlefudge
And now I have just done more research, and am better informed than the actual 'journalist' who wrote the article in the op. Who is a clueless moron who shouldn't be writing about science stories they clearly don't understand.

It does occur pretty often.