A set of three 'Earth-type' planets (as opposed to gas giants) have been discovered in orbit around a "nearby" star. You can read about it here.
What to name them? Moe, Larry and Curly? No. Those names won't do. Their star is named "HD 40307," and I fear HD 40307 Moe is just too much of a mouthful. And who wants to say "I'm from planet Larry," or "Mars is in retrograde, and Curly is rising"? Not me, though I have said both before.
My biggest fear is that there might be life on these "super-Earths." Do I fear life from another planet? No. I fear for the life on the other planet. Here's why:
The planets, having 4.2, 6.7, and 9.4 times the mass of the Earth, orbit the star with periods of 4.3, 9.6, and 20.4 days, respectively.
Oribiting a star in 4.3 days? Do you realize how fast that is? Those poor aliens, hanging on for dear life. They must be terrified.
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