Scientists discover "potentially habitable" exoplanet
Posted: Thu, Sep 30, 2010, 6:49 AM ET (1049 GMT)
Astronomers announced Wednesday the discovery of what they termed the first planet orbiting another star where the conditions could be right to support life. Gliese 581g, orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese 581 20 light-years away, has a mass three to four times that of Earth and orbits within the planet's habitable zone, with an average temperature of -10 to -30 Celsius. Since the planet is tidally locked to the star, actual temperatures would vary from very hot on the side facing the star to very cold on the opposite side, but with a habitable zone in between. All those factors make the planet potentially habitable, although scientists have no information on the presence of water and other resources needed for life. The planet is one of six now known to orbit the star.
Astronomers announced Wednesday the discovery of what they termed the first planet orbiting another star where the conditions could be right to support life. Gliese 581g, orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese 581 20 light-years away, has a mass three to four times that of Earth and orbits within the planet's habitable zone, with an average temperature of -10 to -30 Celsius. Since the planet is tidally locked to the star, actual temperatures would vary from very hot on the side facing the star to very cold on the opposite side, but with a habitable zone in between. All those factors make the planet potentially habitable, although scientists have no information on the presence of water and other resources needed for life. The planet is one of six now known to orbit the star.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, January 22
Colorado Springs leaders done fighting over Space Command
Colorado Springs Gazette — 5:00 am ET (1000 GMT) Space Force Southern HQ opens at Davis-Monthan
KVOA-TV Tucson — 4:58 am ET (0958 GMT) Space Forces Southern officially activated and will ‘be a force of good in the region’
Washington Examiner — 4:57 am ET (0957 GMT) Rocket Lab Neutron Test Update
Rocket Lab — 4:57 am ET (0957 GMT) Rocket Lab Suffers Neutron Setback
Aviation Week — 4:56 am ET (0956 GMT) |
