Alien life certain to exist on Earth-like planet, scientists say - Polidicks

[quote] Gliese 581g was discovered orbiting a nearby star at a distance that places it squarely in the "habitable zone" where liquid could exist on its surface. Of around 500 planets that astronomers have found outside Earth's solar system, this is the first to be considered habitable. The planet is a similar size to Earth and its mass indicates that it is probably rocky with a definite surface and has enough gravity to hold an atmosphere, according to Prof Steven Vogt, who led the team that discovered it. Related Articles Have we really found life on an alien world? 'Earth-like' planet discovered New young planet discovered 'Waterworld' planet six times the size of Earth discovered Discovery of new planets raises hopes of alien life Alien planet 'could float on water' It is as yet unknown whether water does exist on the planet or what kind of atmosphere it has. But because conditions are ideal for liquid, which is always a precursor for life on Earth, Prof Vogt believes that life will undoubtedly have begun there. "Personally, given the ubiquity and propensity of life to flourish wherever it can, I would say, my own personal feeling is that the chances of life on this planet are 100 percent," he said during a press briefing. "I have almost no doubt about it." The findings are based on 11 years of observations by ground-based telescopes at the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii. The close proximity of Gliese 581g and the fact that it was found relatively early in the astronomers' search suggests that there may be billions of other habitable planets like Earth in the universe. Prof Vogt estimates that as many as one in five to 10 stars in the universe have planets that are Earth-sized and in the habitable zone. With an estimated 200 billion stars in the galaxy, that means that around 40 billion planets could have the potential for life, he said. The new findings by Prof Vogt and Paul Butler, of the Carnegie Institution in Washington, will be published in the Astrophysical Journal. The paper reports the discovery of two new planets around the nearby red dwarf star Gliese 581. The most interesting of the two new planets is Gliese 581g, which has a mass three to four times that of Earth and an orbital period of just under 37 days. Gliese 581g is located 20 light years away from Earth in the constellation Libra. The planet is tidally locked to the star, meaning that one side is always facing the star and basking in perpetual daylight, while the side facing away from the star is in perpetual darkness. The researchers estimate that the average surface temperature of the planet is between -24 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-31 to -12 degrees Celsius). Actual temperatures would range from blazing hot on the side facing the star to freezing cold on the dark side. The surface gravity would be about the same or slightly higher than Earth's, so that a person could easily walk upright on the planet, Prof Vogt said. [/quote] [url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/8033930/Alien-life-certain-to-exist-on-Earth-like-planet-scientists-say.html[/url] So now aliens are there!

Late by a few days, bro

To be the man who found it... I would be so proud. Then again, what if he's lying for money?

I found it. Are you calling me a liar? Well I suppose my Planet X has no meaning to you as well. You'll see in 650 years when it re-enters our system.

Let's get our asses there and check it out.

So how far out is it from Earth?

[QUOTE=Mister Cool;25188984]So how far out is it from Earth?[/QUOTE] 20 light years away. It's in the article.

well then whats the point of even caring about it if we won't even be able to reach it?

[QUOTE=Frisk;25189003]20 light years away. It's in the article.[/QUOTE] Welp, time to pack it up, boys, we're heading out early

[QUOTE=xxncxx;25189140]well then whats the point of even caring about it if we won't even be able to reach it?[/QUOTE] What was the point of setting sail for a continent no one knew about risking the chance to never see land again? We do things because there is always a reason. And mostly because we are curious.

20 Light years away? Well, we know where to go if we fuck up earth.

The professor is saying there is life there because there could be life there. I am not going to believe there is life there just because "conditions are ideal for liquid". I'm not saying that there couldn't be life there, but I am saying that this man is quick to jump the gun by saying there is life on that planet. He is not at all being objective.

Wow, think of all the new lush plants and organisms. Amazing, I really hope to live to see at least a rover of some sort land there.

[QUOTE=Mr_Razzums;25190629]Wow, think of all the new lush plants and organisms. Amazing, I really hope to live to see at least a rover of some sort land there.[/QUOTE] I wouldn't hold my breath. 20 light-years is a loooooooong way.

Can't wait to see what its like

[IMG]http://imgur.com/Wxof7.jpg[/IMG] I call it Planet Hawking

[QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;25190685]I wouldn't hold my breath. 20 light-years is a loooooooong way.[/QUOTE] Only 120 trillion miles.

There's probably life all over the universe.

I get more and more depressed when I hear about new planets being discovered with the possibility of them having life. Sure, it's great news, but damn... I'll be long dead before we even send a probe there. Hell, I have a feeling not even my great-great-grandkids will live to see that day.

[QUOTE=TAU!;25190810]I get more and more depressed when I hear about new planets being discovered with the possibility of them having life. Sure, it's great news, but damn... I'll be long dead before we even send a probe there. Hell, I have a feeling not even my great-great-grandkids will live to see that day.[/QUOTE] Don't worry, the aliens will be here soon enough to take us to them.

[QUOTE=OvB;25190781]There's probably life all over the universe.[/QUOTE] Durrrrrr

Gliese 581g just held a press conference saying that the likelihood of life on Earth, the Gliese-like planet, is almost 100%. Our astronomers are now having staring contests with their telescopes.

Guys, its 20 light years away it would take 20 years to get there going the speed of light

:airquote:Certain:airquote:

[QUOTE=Paramud;25190989]:airquote:Certain:airquote:[/QUOTE] diddnt i see grass on the picture of the planet?or atleast some green

I'm glad we haven't discovered life on other planets. I doubt we ever will. I don't believe in life on other planets.

[QUOTE=Paramud;25190989]:airquote:Certain:airquote:[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]There is, however, one major advantage that red dwarfs have over other stars as abodes for life: they live a long time. It took 4.5 billion years before humanity appeared on Earth, and life as we know it will see suitable conditions for as little as half a billion years more.[14] Red dwarfs, by contrast, could live for trillions of years, because their nuclear reactions are far slower than those of larger stars, meaning that life both would have longer to evolve and longer to survive. Further, while the odds of finding a planet in the habitable zone around any specific red dwarf are slim, the total amount of habitable zone around all red dwarfs combined is equal to the total amount around sun-like stars given their ubiquity.[/QUOTE] :unsmith:

[QUOTE=Subby;25190988]Guys, its 20 light years away it would take 20 years to get there going the speed of light[/QUOTE] only in the perspective of the crew from the perspective of people on earth the ship likely takes tens of thousands of years to reach it but thanks to relativity, it "only" feels like 20 years for the crew

Is it still racist if I hope they aren't blue?

[QUOTE=amcwatters;25191083]I'm glad we haven't discovered life on other planets. I doubt we ever will. I don't believe in life on other planets.[/QUOTE] pft. your loss when you're sitting at home denying extra terrestrial life and we're all out fucking hot space chicks. [editline]06:40AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Orkel;25191228]only in the perspective of the crew from the perspective of people on earth the ship likely takes tens of thousands of years to reach it but thanks to relativity, it "only" feels like 20 years for the crew[/QUOTE] Which is why we need to master wormhole technology.