Earthlike planet found just 40 light-years away!

[Edric O]

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.html

I'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.

[Mahdi]

Damnit, they found my homeworld!  I must speed up the timetable....

[D2k Sardaukar]

Great news.

Will you give us a sign when you get there, Edric?  :P

(bad joke)

[SandChigger]

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

[Edric O]

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

[MrFlibble]

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?

[Dante]

Not if they know they'll die on the way there.

[veK]

How is it earthlike with those temperatures and atmosphere. It's nothing like earth so should choose their words more carefully.

[Dante]

It's relative (what isn't these days?). It's more Earth-like than say, Mars or Mercury. Arguably.

[SandChigger]

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.

[Dante]

Hot Jupiter sounds like it should be a euphemism.

Or possibly a space traveller's curse exclamation of excitement.

[SandChigger]

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....

[Dante]

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. ;)

[SandChigger]

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 )

[Dante]

You're too kind. ;D

As 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!

[SandChigger]

Ah ... then that artist of So was prescient ... in a sense.