Astronomers Find First Earth-like Planet in a Habitable Zone
Using the European Southern Observatory (ESO) 3.6-m telescope in La Silla, Chile, a team of Swiss, French, and Portuguese astronomers have discovered the most Earth-like planet outside our Solar System to date. The planet orbits a red dwarf star named Gliese 581. The planet lies in the habitable zone -- that is the region around a star where water could be liquid. The Earth-like planet's name is Gliese 581 c.
Comments:
<br>Geez, it completes an orbit in 13 days. I wonder, if it's so close would it be tidally locked to the star? If not, then I bet that makes for some wild weather. <br><br>-Jason
And the article states that missions to explore this planet will be on the forefront. Hmmm. 20 million light years. Wonder who will ever know if the mission was a success. I have my doubts that in this lifetime or the next we will explore any planet outside this solar system. As I see it. We spend $3 a gallon to got 60MPH on a planet that is spinning at 1000MPH. And we are going to explore a planet in another solar system in another galazy 20 million light years away. Until we find a way to move relative to the speed we are already moving at without using gobs of energy we are never going anywhere far.
