Montage of many planet images taken by NASA
Credit: NASA | ©Royalty Free
Major New Space Discovery: Possibly Habitable Earth-Like Planet
European scientists have discovered a planet that could possibly sustain life. The planet appears to be "Earth-Like" in that it may be able to sustain water as well as life.
While this planet is Earth-like, it is 50 percent larger than Earth. The planet, named Gliese 581 C, after it's red dwarf star, Gliese 581, is five times more massive than the Earth and is being referred to as the "super-planet".
One year on the planet Gliese 581 C is comparable to only 13 days on the planet Earth for a human. Were a human able to survive on this planet, the age process would go faster, thus making the life span much shorter.
Gliese 581 C's red dwarf star is about 20.5 light years away from it, which makes its star fifteen times closer to it, than is our sun to the Earth. Being that a red dwarf star lets off considerably less light than the sun and has a much cooler temperature, it is possible for the star to be that close to its planet without causing the planet to be too hot to sustain life.
With Glies 581 C being so close to its star and also being so close to Earth it could soon become an important area for future space missions searching for extraterrestrial life. While this planet is relatively close, it is outside of our solar system.
Although other extrasolar planets, those not in our solar system, have been discovered, Gliese 581 C is the smallest yet, and is the first to be considered Earth-like. While the planet is not exactly the same as Earth, it is a huge step in that direction, which also has scientist believing there could very well be other planets that are exactly like Earth. These scientists are intent on discovering them, as well as researching Gliese 581 C further.
It is known that at least two other planets inhabit the red dwarf system. One of these two is a hot gas planet like Jupiter that is a 15 Earth mass, but is too hot to sustain human life. The other is an 8 Earth mass planet that was discovered at the same time as Gliese 581 C, but lies outside it's star's habitable zone.
Computer modules are predicting this planet is either rocky, like the planet Earth, or it is covered completely by large bodies of water.
While this planet is Earth-like, it is 50 percent larger than Earth. The planet, named Gliese 581 C, after it's red dwarf star, Gliese 581, is five times more massive than the Earth and is being referred to as the "super-planet".
One year on the planet Gliese 581 C is comparable to only 13 days on the planet Earth for a human. Were a human able to survive on this planet, the age process would go faster, thus making the life span much shorter.
Gliese 581 C's red dwarf star is about 20.5 light years away from it, which makes its star fifteen times closer to it, than is our sun to the Earth. Being that a red dwarf star lets off considerably less light than the sun and has a much cooler temperature, it is possible for the star to be that close to its planet without causing the planet to be too hot to sustain life.
With Glies 581 C being so close to its star and also being so close to Earth it could soon become an important area for future space missions searching for extraterrestrial life. While this planet is relatively close, it is outside of our solar system.
Although other extrasolar planets, those not in our solar system, have been discovered, Gliese 581 C is the smallest yet, and is the first to be considered Earth-like. While the planet is not exactly the same as Earth, it is a huge step in that direction, which also has scientist believing there could very well be other planets that are exactly like Earth. These scientists are intent on discovering them, as well as researching Gliese 581 C further.
It is known that at least two other planets inhabit the red dwarf system. One of these two is a hot gas planet like Jupiter that is a 15 Earth mass, but is too hot to sustain human life. The other is an 8 Earth mass planet that was discovered at the same time as Gliese 581 C, but lies outside it's star's habitable zone.
Computer modules are predicting this planet is either rocky, like the planet Earth, or it is covered completely by large bodies of water.
Comments
fv bounty
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/22/2007
It is unfortunate that such a discovery does not draw, more interest in the people ,and media!this planet could be the first to have water ,and life beyond earth! yet little is happeneing to learn more,........... makes me wonder , has SETI heard anything from gleis 187 c? wouldnt that be amazing,
fv bounty
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/22/2007
The distance between gleis 187 c, and EARTH IS 20.5 LIGHT YEARS.If the human race will ever reach it ,it would require many times light speed to reach in a human lifespan!The techknowledgies required for deep space travel ,such as cryogenics would be reqyired ,as would in proved sheilding against radiation,and the amount of supply and energy to make such a jorney is,very complex ! may turn out to be a good inspiration to the people of earth to come together,joint EARTH exploration ,and someday colonization
I agree Angela. I think it's amazing! :)
Wow! This is the first I have heard of this. What a discovery!
Me, too Kendrah. :)
You are so talking my language, I am fascinated with science. Makes me want to read more about space again.
I know. I think it's great. I'm not understandiong why the major tv news channels aren't really talking about it much. This is an amazing development. I am curious to see what else they discover about this planet in the future. :-)
This is probably the most significant development in our lifetime. Amazing that the mainstream press is so nonchalant about it.
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