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Astrophysicist 'Finds' Superman's Planet Krypton

Neil deGrasse Tyson gives DC Comics a hand

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 5, 2012 9:24 AM CST | Updated Nov 10, 2012 7:22 AM CST

(Newser) – OK, the planet Krypton still isn't real—but now we know where it would be if it existed. Using data from DC Comics, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has found a spot in space for Superman's home planet, the New York Post reports. "One of our staffers reached out to (Tyson) to see if he’d assist for a story we were doing, and he actually came up with a location," says a DC boss. It's 27.1 light years from Earth in the Corvus constellation, spinning around a red dwarf star known as LHS 2520.

"As a native of Metropolis, I was delighted to help Superman, who has done so much for my city over all these years," Tyson says. News of the planet's location comes as part of an Action Comics storyline that finds Superman trying to figure out where it is. In the story, Superman figures out the location himself. "It’s clear that if he weren’t a superhero, he would have made quite an astrophysicist," says Tyson, who himself appears in the issue.

In this image released by Norton Books, Neil DeGrasse Tyson is shown.
In this image released by Norton Books, Neil DeGrasse Tyson is shown.   (AP Photo/Norton Books)
In this comic book image released by DC Comics, the cover of Superman No. 1 is shown.
In this comic book image released by DC Comics, the cover of "Superman" No. 1 is shown.   (AP Photo/DC Comics, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 19 comments
Chatsworth
Nov 11, 2012 8:45 AM CST
Life is a comic book,believe it or not!Life is a comic book, 2 bits a shot.
LReyes
Nov 6, 2012 11:10 AM CST
Neil DeGrasse Tyson is a scientist held in the highest regards & yet he claims to discovered Superman's long-lost homeworld? Talk about a cry for attention.
TonyCardinal
Nov 5, 2012 5:02 PM CST
KRYPTON WAS SUPPOSEDLY MADE UP BY THE CREATOR OF SUPERMAN®!!! IT IS MERELY AN HONORARY NAME GIVEN TO AN ELEMENT ON THE PERIODIC TABLE AND NOW A PLANET "FAR, FAR AWAY"!!!
 

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