Scientists Discover Earthlike Planet

ComatoseClown · 10-15-2007, 08:21 PM

for my useless post of the day.....(i found this interesting)....astronomers have found a "second Earth"

Quote:

Scientists have discovered a warm and rocky "second Earth" circling a star, a find they believe dramatically boosts the prospects that we are not alone.

The planet is the most Earth-like ever spotted and is thought to have perfect conditions for water, an essential ingredient for life. Researchers detected the planet orbiting one of Earth's nearest stars, a cool red dwarf called Gliese 581, 20 light years away in the constellation of Libra.

Measurements of the planet's celestial path suggest it is 1½ times the size of our home planet, and orbits close to its sun, with a year of just 13 days. The planet's orbit brings it 14 times closer to its star than Earth is to the sun. But Gliese 581 burns at only 3,000C, half the temperature of our own sun, making conditions on the planet comfortable for life, with average ground temperatures estimated at 0 to 40C. Researchers claim the planet is likely to have an atmosphere. The discovery follows a three-year search for habitable planets by the European Southern Observatory at La Silla in Chile.

"We wouldn't be surprised if there is life on this planet," said Stephane Udry, an astronomer on the project at the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland.

Two years ago, the same team discovered a giant Neptune-sized planet orbiting Gliese 581. A closer look revealed the latest planetary discovery, along with a third, larger planet that orbits the star every 84 days. The planets have been named after their star, with the most earthlike called Gliese 581c. The team spotted the planet by searching the "habitable zone".

from:
'Second Earth' found, 20 light years away | Science | The Guardian

it might look like this

HAVOC · 10-15-2007, 08:42 PM

ZOMG!! You don't have picture? Lame..Weak....

/sarcasm

That's pretty cool. Although not surprising to me. I'm a firm believer in, "We're not ALONE!"

Apokalipse · 10-15-2007, 08:49 PM

It's mathematically extremely likely that this is not the only planet capable of sustaining life.

peterhuang913 · 10-15-2007, 09:09 PM

But, But they're so far away...

Ste · 10-15-2007, 09:13 PM

20 Light years is relatively small compared to what it could be..

Anyways, I shall begin to plan my vacation to this "Second Earth"..

peterhuang913 · 10-15-2007, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ste

20 Light years is relatively small compared to what it could be..

Anyways, I shall begin to plan my vacation to this "Second Earth"..

Don't forget to send e-cards.

Apokalipse · 10-15-2007, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterhuang913

But, But they're so far away...

20 light years = 20 years for an electromagnetic wave to reach

That could potentially give us the option of communicating with them. But of course, there would have to be life there intelligent enough and advanced enough to know how to use radio communications.