Scientists find 'second Earth'

[buksida]

European astronomers have discovered the first planet beyond our solar system that orbits in a "sweet spot" zone where life could exist.

The planet, about five times as massive as Earth, orbits Gliese 581, a red dwarf star about 20 light years from our solar system.

The team of Swiss, French and Portuguese scientists who found the planet estimate its surface temperature ranges from freezing to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, the crucial range in which water can exist as a liquid.

"Because of its temperature and relative proximity, this planet will most probably be a very important target of the future space missions dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial life," Xavier Delfosse, an astronomer from Grenoble University in France, said on Tuesday. "On the treasure map of the universe, one would be tempted to mark this planet with an X."

The discovery was made with the European Southern Observatory's 12-foot diameter telescope in La Silla, Chile. The planet was first detected by the telescope's HARPS Spectrograph, a sensitive device for analysing the light from distant astronomical objects.

Geoffrey Marcy, a University of California, Berkeley, astronomer who has discovered most of the 200 or so "exoplanets" orbiting other stars, called it "a marvellous discovery ... the best case for a habitable planet" so far.

But Marcy and other scientists cautioned against reading too much into the discovery.

Eugene Chiang, a planetary specialist at UC Berkeley, said the Europeans had no proof the planet was rocky, or that their estimates of the surface temperature were accurate.

"This is a step beyond what's been done," he said. "But to say this planet is habitable is a real stretch."

Source : The Nation

Now if we could only stop killing each other over fossil fuels and religion we maybe able to get out there in the next decade or two .... nah, dream on!

[sargeant]

how long is a lightyear i know buzz came batteries not included

[Kraka's Dad]

A lightyear is distance not time.(The distance light travels in one year)

Sure you knew that already Sarge.
Still off the fags I hope. If so very well done you should be proud of your efforts.

[sargeant]

Yes kraka still of the fags about 6/7 light weeks now or should i say weeks without a light mind you it feels like light months
unless i am mistaken 20 light years would be a long time then still if i start from home (MARS) i should get there before the 7/11 shuts

[Norseman]

how long is a lightyear i know buzz came batteries not included

1 lightyear is 9,460,730,000,000 km

That's a looooooong way.

[sargeant]

craaaaapppppp i dont reckon i can go that long without a fag and without a beer no chance

NaaH ill make it

[The understudy]

Hallo Y'all

I can't wait til next year when A Joint satellite will be launched by the Europeans and the USA. It's for the purpose of searching for earthlike Planets ouside our Solar System only. This satellite can look even inot other distant stars to find a planet that's like our own. No solar glares can obstruct their View and finmdings on this field will be Awesome!!!

You's the understudy!!!

[Rider]

I can't wait for the fusion groove to get going. Once fusion power gets going it will eliminate fossil fuels. The only hitch is the helium 3 element ( to stabalise the reaction process) is only found in moon rock, meaning a spot of lunar mining is needed!