'Finding a Second Earth Could Happen Anytime Now'

POSTED BY: deadlockvictim
UPDATED: Friday, October 2, 2009 17:45
VIEWED: 834
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DEADLOCKVICTIM

Friday, October 2, 2009 2:44 PM

To date, Planet hunters have spotted more than 300 planets beyond our solar system, but the vast majority are hot, Jupiter-sized planets that would dwarf the Earth and are almost certainly lifeless.

A few weeks ago, the first rocky planet was found outside solar system, but the surface temperature is far too hot to sustain life. The planet, called CoRoT-7b, is the first planet beyond our solar system with a proven density similar to Earth's, astronomers say. Most known exoplanets are large gas giants like Jupiter.

The tiny planet was discovered orbiting a star slightly smaller and cooler than our sun, about 500 light-years away. As the planet passed in front of its star, it eclipsed a small portion of the star's light, causing a dip in brightness.

Astronomers may be on the brink of discovering a second Earth-like planet, a find that would add fresh impetus to the search for extraterrestrial life...

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/10/-nasaharvard-teams-say-fi
nding-a-second-earth-could-happen-anytime-now.html

whew..!?! and not a minute too soon.....

DEADLOCKVICTIM

Friday, October 2, 2009 2:52 PM

"Man is a menace, a walking pestilence. He eats up his food supply in the forest, then migrates to our green belts and ravages our crops. The sooner he is exterminated, the better. It's a question of simian survival."

Only 1,970 years until the Reign of Zaius!

all hail Dr Zaius

BYTEMITE

Friday, October 2, 2009 3:58 PM

It's actually not the first rocky planet, I'm surprised that claim is being made.

Here are some that have been found in the liveable zone around a star. Even more intriguingly, the SAME star.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gliese_581c
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gliese_581d

GEEZER

Friday, October 2, 2009 4:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
It's actually not the first rocky planet, I'm surprised that claim is being made.

Here are some that have been found in the liveable zone around a star. Even more intriguingly, the SAME star.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gliese_581c
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gliese_581d

Hey, find some way to quickly accelerate to and decelerate from 0.1c and we could get there in 200 or so years. Cold sleep, anyone?

"Keep the Shiny side up"

BYTEMITE

Friday, October 2, 2009 4:34 PM

Heck, I'd volunteer. It'd be tough to give up Earth, I do love it here, but that kind of adventure? Who could say no?

CHRISISALL

Friday, October 2, 2009 4:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by deadlockvictim:
"Man is a menace, a walking pestilence. He eats up his food supply in the forest, then migrates to our green belts and ravages our crops. The sooner he is exterminated, the better."

Lawgiver, who KNOWS about the future?

The laughing Chrisisall

DREAMTROVE

Friday, October 2, 2009 5:45 PM

Don't worry, they have faster ships and will come pick us up.

But watch out, Earth is in trouble: The Gliesens have a cell phone that unfolds into a car.