Astronomers last May were thrilled to have discovered a planet around a distant star using a theoretical technique called astrometry, which measures the side-to-side wobble of a star to determine what is orbiting around it. After 50 years of trying, and getting spanked by other astronomers using other techniques to identify hundreds of alien worlds, the team finally nailed one.

Or so they thought! Astronomers trying to replicate the technique and verify the finding through other means (cough, cough, Hadley CRU) discovered that they could not find the planet. This was a blow to astrometrists, who really thought they found a planet using this method.

Of course, you know they did. They found a planet around the star VB10. But the Mandarin needed it, so naturally, he just took it. He might put it back when he’s done with it. Or not.

The Czar of Muscovy

Божію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of all Russia upon the death of Boris Mikhailovich, who replaced Alexander Yaroslav Nevsky in 1263. However, in 1283, our Czar was passed over due to a clerical error and the rule of all Russia went to his second cousin Daniil (Даниил Александрович), whom Czar still resents. As a half-hearted apology, the Czar was awarded control over Muscovy, inconveniently located 5,000 miles away just outside Chicago. He now spends his time seething about this and writing about other stuff that bothers him.