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Great ball of fire dubbed planet Tres-4

By Times Wires
Published August 8, 2007

PHOENIX

SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED THE UNIVERSE'S LARGEST KNOWN PLANET, A GIANT BALL MADE MOSTLY OF HYDROGEN THAT IS 20 TIMES LARGER THAN EARTH AND CIRCLING A STAR 1,400 LIGHT-YEARS AWAY. SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THE PLANET IS 1.7 TIMES THE DIAMETER OF JUPITER, THE LARGEST PLANET IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, AND HAS A TEMPERATURE OF 2,300-DEGREES. "THERE IS PROBABLY NOT A REALLY FIRM SURFACE ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET. YOU WOULD SINK INTO IT," SAID GEORGI MANDUSHEV, A SCIENTIST AT LOWELL OBSERVATORY AND LEAD AUTHOR OF AN ARTICLE IN THE Astrophysical Journal Letters. Lowell, along with the California Institute of Technology's Palomar Observatory and telescopes in Spain's Canary Islands, discovered the planet circling a star in the constellation Hercules. Scientists first spotted the planet, called TrES-4, in spring 2006 and the discovery was later confirmed.

MINNEAPOLIS

Plan for new bridge discussed

State officials laid out tentative plans for the reconstruction of an Interstate 35W bridge Tuesday, with five lanes each way instead of four, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty said his office was considering a victims' compensation fund. Also, a Navy dive team's arrival raised hopes of speeding up the recovery operation. At least eight people are missing and presumed dead in last week's collapse, with perhaps more still in the river. Five people are confirmed dead. Four people still hospitalized improved to serious condition, leaving only one person in critical condition.

NEW HAVEN, CONN.

Hearing held in 3 family deaths

Two suspects in a burglary and arson that left three people dead and shocked a suburban town last month faced a slew of charges Tuesday in a heavily secured courthouse. Family members of the victims - the wife and daughters of a prominent doctor, who survived the attack - filled two rows in the packed courtroom. A man was escorted from the courtroom after he yelled "Killer!" as Joshua Komisarjevsky faced the judge. Komisarjevsky, 26, and Steven Hayes, 44, did not enter pleas.

Elsewhere

RELEASED: Utah polygamist Tom Green was released from prison after serving six years on a child rape conviction for having sex with a 13-year-old girl who is now his only legal wife.

REJECTED: Mayor Michael Bloomberg was dismissed on his second day of jury duty Tuesday, after attorneys passed him up while choosing a panel to hear a personal injury case.

JUDGE IN HOT WATER: The Washington, D.C., judge who sued his dry cleaners for $54-million over a pair of pants may want to begin looking for a new job. A city commission voted to formally notify Administrative Law Judge Roy Pearson that he may not be reappointed.

[Last modified August 8, 2007, 00:28:20]