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A planetary system that may contain life has been found.
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| Rinster |
| quote: | A planetary system that may contain life has been found in orbit around a Sun-like star 41 light years from Earth - or 240,906,832,298,136 miles.
The discovery has excited Nasa, where astronomer Dr Geoff Marcy told a conference last night: "It has me jumping out of my socks."
The most significant point of the discovery is that it indicates that planets with temperatures similar to Earth and a plentiful supply of liquid water could be common in the universe. Scientists have guessed at this possibility for some years, but this is the first hard evidence.
Nasa announced that for the first time five planets, all of them huge, have been found in orbit around a star known as 55 Cancri. |
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages...in_page_id=1965 |
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| nchs09 |
| hahahaha @ fox news. |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
that's cool, but what (if any) indication is there that this particular planet would have similar characteristics to earth? is the size of a star and the orbit around it the only two variables for a habitable planet? how do they know there is water on it?
someone must find me answers :) |
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| Fledz |
| quote: | Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
that's cool, but what (if any) indication is there that this particular planet would have similar characteristics to earth? is the size of a star and the orbit around it the only two variables for a habitable planet? how do they know there is water on it?
someone must find me answers :) |
They look for a moon which may be similar to Earth, not the actual planet as it's too big ;) |
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| leph555 |
| so where can i purchase one way tickets to that place? :conf: |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by leph555
so where can i purchase one way tickets to that place? :conf: |
:D |
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| Prometheus Xex |
| quote: | Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
that's cool, but what (if any) indication is there that this particular planet would have similar characteristics to earth? is the size of a star and the orbit around it the only two variables for a habitable planet? how do they know there is water on it? |
I believe they can at least surmise that it contains certain elements (like hydrogen and oxygen) in it's atmosphere by the data received from looking at it's light spectrum. Weather or not it actually contains water is another matter. |
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| SuspicionVandit |
is this ever possible?
taking a photo of ourselves as the light goes around the ring of the universe? |
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| Quinders |
| ^^^ Haha, Interesting. Might be possible. Is the universe a ring though? |
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| Robin Banks |
| I though it was a piece of string? |
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