Kepler 16-b: first circumbinary planet?

[arjose]

NASA says that the case of Kepler 16-b is "the first unambiguous detection of a circumbinary planet." But Wikipedia lists at most five circumbinary systems: PSR B1620-26, HW Virginis, Kepler-16, DP Leonis, and NN Serpentis. If so, why is Kepler's discovery the FIRST if four systems were already observed/noted beforehand? I'm not saying Wikipedia is free from potential tampering but I'm just confused here.

 

[cobalt124]

Your post may be answering itself.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14940885:

"Though there have been hints in the past that planets circling double stars might exist - "circumbinary planets", as they are known - scientists say this is the first confirmation."

Wikipedia does say the other five are confirmed, the difference seems to be how they are confirmed, and that the Kepler confirmation is the first by direct observation.

What I didn't know was that stars existed with surface temperatures of -73C to -101C, which I guess they would have to in this case for a gas planet to be existing in an orbit roughly equivalent in size to that of Venus.

 

[phinds]

this is the first UNAMBIGUOUS confirmation, not the first strongly suspected confirmation

 

[arjose]

Your post may be answering itself.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14940885:

What I didn't know was that stars existed with surface temperatures of -73C to -101C, which I guess they would have to in this case for a gas planet to be existing in an orbit roughly equivalent in size to that of Venus.

Didn't think stars had cold surfaces. Although I've read about those Y-class brown dwarfs.

Btw, you're link is dead. Thanks for the reply though.

 

[cobalt124]

Link fixed. That Wikipedia article possibly needs some tidying up.

 

[arjose]

What I didn't know was that stars existed with surface temperatures of -73C to -101C, which I guess they would have to in this case for a gas planet to be existing in an orbit roughly equivalent in size to that of Venus.

Hold on. I think you misread the article on BBC. The surface temperature is for the planet, not the suns. I found this on another news article: "Because both of its suns are smaller and cooler than our sun, Kepler-16b would be quite cold, with a surface temperature of around minus 100 to minus 150F (minus 73 to minus 101C)."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...l-discovery-Kepler-16b-Star-Wars-planet.html"

 

[cobalt124]

Yep sorry, my misread.