Astronomy / Space Exoplanet discovered around neighbouring star

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Off topic.

I don't understand why this particular exoplanet is news. There are an estimated 1 to 2tn planets in the galaxy, depending what you think the average is per star, but stars over a certain age, not having some kind of system, is pretty unusual. Since we have an analogue in our own system that we can examine in the future, I don't see why this is newsworthy. /shrug.

Fires the imagination though, doesn't it :)
 
News because barnards star 2nd closest star to our own. Large planet that's very cold (most likely) but it's possible to have a thick atmosphere (tbc) in which case is possibly close enough to warrant future examination as science develops ability to ascertain atmospheres of other worlds and composition of gases etc. Closer to Earth the better for the science I should think
 
Off topic.

I don't understand why this particular exoplanet is news. There are an estimated 1 to 2tn planets in the galaxy, depending what you think the average is per star, but stars over a certain age, not having some kind of system, is pretty unusual. Since we have an analogue in our own system that we can examine in the future, I don't see why this is newsworthy. /shrug.

Fires the imagination though, doesn't it :)

Not everyone is so well informed. There are a great many people who think the earth is flat or who think the universe is 6,000yrs old. Some beileve in a God. Quite a few would barely be able to name the planets in our own solar system. There are creationists, and the just plain stupid. In short, there are a great many people who could benefit from further education. Furthermore, there are many who are genuinely interested. I am not interested in golf/tennis/politics/celeb news, but it is still reported. I do not care what KK and her fat butt are doing, nor about her large derriere. But reports of a new planet brings some light relief in place of the mundane miserable business of the world.
 
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