Kip Powick Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 ****attached pic is an illustration only (CNN) -- Astronomers announced this week they found a water-rich and relatively nearby planet that's similar in size to Earth. While the planet probably has too thick of an atmosphere and is too hot to support life similar to that found on Earth, the discovery is being heralded as a major breakthrough in humanity's search for life on other planets. "The big excitement is that we have found a watery world orbiting a very nearby and very small star," said David Charbonneau, a Harvard professor of astronomy and lead author of an article on the discovery, which appeared this week in the journal Nature. The planet, named GJ 1214b, is 2.7 times as large as Earth and orbits a star much smaller and less luminous than our sun. That's significant, Charbonneau said, because for many years, astronomers assumed that planets only would be found orbiting stars that are similar in size to the sun. Because of that assumption, researchers didn't spend much time looking for planets circling small stars, he said. The discovery of this "watery world" helps debunk the notion that Earth-like planets could form only in conditions similar to those in our solar system. "Nature is just far more inventive in making planets than we were imagining," he said. In a way, the newly discovered planet was sitting right in front of astronomers' faces, just waiting for them to look. Instead of using high-powered telescopes attached to satellites, they spotted the planet using an amateur-sized, 16-inch telescope on the ground. There were no technological reasons the discovery couldn't have happened long ago, Charbonneau said. The planet is also rather near to our solar system -- only about 40 light-years away. Planet GJ 1214b is classified as a "super-Earth" because it is between one and 10 times as large as Earth. Scientists have known about the existence of super-Earths for only a couple of years. Most planets discovered by astronomers have been gassy giants that are much more similar to Jupiter than to Earth. Charbonneau said it's unlikely that any life on the newly discovered planet would be similar to life on Earth, but he didn't discount the idea entirely. "This planet probably does have liquid water," he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Cronin Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Now just think how absolutely huge it would be, to find signs of life there. Can you imagine how much change that would ignite? ....Wow! Thanks Kip. .....That's really cool. .....it's just a matter of time.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canus Chinookus Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 I firmly believe that life outside of earth is the rule, not the exception... it's only a matter of time. We'll probably even find it within our own solar system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rattler Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 I firmly believe that life outside of earth is the rule, not the exception... it's only a matter of time. We'll probably even find it within our own solar system. I too believe that we are not alone, of course the doubters ask if that is so why haven't any of the others dropped in for a visit. 1. Tremendous distances to be travelled and need for ability to travel very,very,very much faster than light. 2. If they are adanced enough to make the journey, what the heck do we have that would encourage them to do so? Would you want to visit a planet where people still kill each other for the strangest of reasons? (religion, colour, suspicion of being a witch, adultery etc. etc.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canus Chinookus Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 I didn't say 'intelligent life', as i'm still wondering where we can find it on our own planet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEFCON Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 "We'll probably even find it within our own solar system." Excellent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canus Chinookus Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 "We'll probably even find it within our own solar system." Excellent! I meant off our planet you monkey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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