And you thought Eve was difficult to visit...

[brdavis]

Imagine this place:

Astronomers find "Mega-Earth"

Note that while it almost certainly has *some* atmosphere, probably a pretty significant one at that (Venusian at least?), it's certain *not* a gas giant with a density like that. Talk about a challenge…

[DJEN]

Then let's tear it apart and feast upon its innards.

[Nuke]

i always wondered if these kinda things existed.

this things molten rock moon is interesting too, i assume that heat comes from tidal stresses.

[KerikBalm]

its not a molten rock moon, its another planet... like mercury too close to the star

[DJEN]

its not a molten rock moon, its another planet... like mercury too close to the star

Condemned artists with their "Artistic Representations" confusing the naïve masses.

[phoenix_ca]

So, now we know that massive rocky planets and itty-bitty gas planets exist (well...comparatively speaking). Good. Will do humans some good to understand, even more, that the solar system isn't super-special.

[NASAFanboy]

Can't we have a mega-Earth terrestrial planet have a gas giant moon?

Even better if it is habitable.

That would be amazing.

[The Silent Majority]

Can't we have a mega-Earth terrestrial planet have a gas giant moon?

Even better if it is habitable.

That would be amazing.

I assume the gas giant moon is a joke.

The best part about it being habitable is that if it is, we can observe the life forms and they can't get too us. (I read somewhere, I can't remember now, that if the Earth had 90% of the gravity it does now, most of our rockets would be ssto's. (I can't confirm it though and do NOT feel like doing the math right now))

[phoenix_ca]

Man...it'd REALLY have sucked to evolve on a planet with that much gravity. Just think of the extra bone structure...to say nothing of space flight.