Edric O Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 That's right, an actual Earth-like planet - 2.7 times the size of the Earth, and possessing liquid water - has apparently been found by astronomers orbiting a small star just 40 light-years away.http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/16/super.earth.discovery/index.htmlI'm not sure what kind of star they are talking about, exactly, and I'm not sure if this planet would be hospitable for human life (the article says it may be "too hot", and there is of course the question of atmospheric composition), but this is a very exciting development. And it's so close to the Sun! If two Earth-type planets exist within 40 light-years of each other, this greatly increases the possibility that we will find others, as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahdi Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Damnit, they found my homeworld! I must speed up the timetable.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D2k Sardaukar Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Great news. Will you give us a sign when you get there, Edric? :P (bad joke) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandChigger Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Cool.Well, er, no ... pretty hot, actually. So, the conclusion is that GJ 1214b probably has a thin shell of hydrogen and helium for an atmosphere, and then a massive ocean above a silicate and iron core.Depending on how reflective the planet's atmosphere is, it may have temperatures as high as 555K, or as low as 393K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edric O Posted December 18, 2009 Author Share Posted December 18, 2009 So, the conclusion is that GJ 1214b probably has a thin shell of hydrogen and helium for an atmosphere, and then a massive ocean above a silicate and iron core.Depending on how reflective the planet's atmosphere is, it may have temperatures as high as 555K, or as low as 393K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrFlibble Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Wouldn't the discovery of an Earth-like planet make people even more careless towards the environment, knowing that if things get dicey, you can move on to another place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dante Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Not if they know they'll die on the way there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veK Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 How is it earthlike with those temperatures and atmosphere. It's nothing like earth so should choose their words more carefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dante Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 It's relative (what isn't these days?). It's more Earth-like than say, Mars or Mercury. Arguably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandChigger Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Wouldn't the discovery of an Earth-like planet make people even more careless towards the environment, knowing that if things get dicey, you can move on to another place?Hmm ... Dante has a point.And I remember the last time I moved just 5 light years. Was a royal pain in the ass. And the movers ... so RUDE! And they broke some of our best china! ;)It's relative (what isn't these days?). It's more Earth-like than say, Mars or Mercury. Arguably. Or a "hot Jupiter". Definitely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dante Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Hot Jupiter sounds like it should be a euphemism.Or possibly a space traveller's curse exclamation of excitement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandChigger Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Euphemism? As in don't turn your back on any swans or bulls, folks, and hide all yer purdy boys? As curses go, anything's preferable to "Vermillion Hells!", no?(snort)I wonder if the Celestia simulator people have got this new planet into the database yet.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dante Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 I always thought Tintin's "Great snakes!" was a little weird. Especially since his earlier incarnations killed more than a few snakes.You're thinking of a Zeusphemism. Closely related, but not quite the same. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandChigger Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 I'm only vaguely familiar with Tintin. Did any of his snakes have legs, do you think?(Nice coinage, though I'd have dropped the 's', for the ... zeuphony? LOVE the new sig, too. :P ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dante Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 You're too kind. ;DAs a matter of fact, one of them did. In Tintin in the Congo a snake eats his dog, Snowy. I forget exactly what happens, but at one point Snowy's legs are poking out of the snake's side and running around with it. Trufax! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandChigger Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Ah ... then that artist of So was prescient ... in a sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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