2007-05-01 09:48:12 · 4 answers · asked by adidassoccer62 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
If you mean by direct observation, then that would be Neptune. Clyde Tombaugh used a blink comparator to compare two photographic plates in discovering Pluto.
2007-05-01 09:58:56 · answer #1 · answered by eilishaa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE "LAST ONE WAS", but the most recent, widely reported Earth equivalent extrasolarsystem planet was "584 C." It is apparently rather similar to Earth in size, composition, and temperature range.
More news to follow.
A while back it was reported that some 200 extrasolarsystem planets had been discovered and cataloged circling around distant stars. Those were the big ones that could be easily detected by their interference with the light given off by a given star as they orbited around the star. The technique was reportedly only good for locating the biggies, and would not necessarily work for the smaller plantary bodies like Venus, Mercury, and Earth. I am not sure how 584 C was detected, or how they came to know its physical attributes. I need to study up on that myself...
2007-05-01 10:01:33 · answer #2 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Uranus was discovered by direct telescopic observation (1781).
Neptune was discovered by calculation, confirmed by directed telescopic observation (1846).
Pluto was discovered by observing telescopic photographs (1930).
2007-05-01 11:03:45 · answer #3 · answered by Keith P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know
But it seems to keep changing every time they discover a new one.
2007-05-01 09:51:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋