US astronomers said Wednesday they have discovered an Earth-sized planet that they think might be habitable, orbiting a nearby star, and believe there could be many more planets like it in space.So... instead of finding Earth 2, as the local headline would have you believe when buying the paper, what we've done is mathematically deduce that this star system has a planet more the size of Earth instead of the commonly found gas giant variety.The planet, found by astronomers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the Carnegie Institution of Washington, is orbiting in the middle of the "habitable zone" of the red dwarf star Gliese 581, which means it could have water on its surface.
Liquid water and an atmosphere are necessary for a planet to possibly sustain life, even it it might not be a great place to live, the scientists said.
Woop-de-doo.
We already knew there are "Earth-like planets" out there -- at least, based on the criteria of this article. They're called Venus and Mars. They're in the local "habitable zone," too, but I don't see the wagon trains headed to those garden spots. So why the fuss?
I think Otto nailed it: "I see it as people looking for eternity in the wrong place. It's interesting to see what is out there, no doubt, but there is no saving of the human race to come out of it."
Bingo. Ever since Hollywood popularized the character of the wise ancient alien, folks have become more likely to hope for answers from the stars, instead of seeking the One who made the stars...
2 comments:
Welcome back, brother!
Thanks! Twas nice to be unplugged a few days with the Musketeers.
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