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Post by Dominique on Apr 25, 2007 6:40:15 GMT -5
Apparently scientists have discovered an Earth like planet. They have estimated it's surface temp to be between 0 to 40 degrees celcius and think it is probably rocky and might have oceans. Apparently because it looks like it could sustain life it will be the focus of our future missions and scientists think it's possible there could be extraterrestrial life living there. Pretty exciting! here is a link: www.smh.com.au/news/science/earth-ii-hunt-planet-found/2007/04/25/1177459752092.htmlMaybe it will explain all the Americans who say they have been abducted by aliens
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Lu
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Post by Lu on Apr 25, 2007 7:32:31 GMT -5
wow exciting. I'll have a look at that link!
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Lu
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Post by Lu on Apr 25, 2007 7:40:42 GMT -5
That's great! And 20.5 light years, it's not so far...I mean, for being another planet, it's not far. I love astronomy, it's a so fascinating subject. Thanks for posting the link.
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Michelle
First novel published
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Post by Michelle on Apr 25, 2007 8:12:10 GMT -5
That is very interesting. The odds of finding a planet that could support life are so low. Since it's bigger, wouldn't gravity be a lot stronger?
Do only Americans say they have been abducted by aliens?
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Post by Dominique on Apr 25, 2007 8:22:49 GMT -5
lol no, but there is a lot of supposed UFO sightings in America and it's always Americans that I hear about who say that they've been abducted by aliens, but I'm sure people of other nationalities say it too. All the documentaries seem to have American eye witnesses and accounts and stuff and that combined with American movies makes a bit of a stereotype.
That's a good point about gravity, would it being closer to it's sun than we are affect its gravity too?
I thought it was interesting how one scientist said there would be very little light but a lot of heat.
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Lu
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Post by Lu on Apr 25, 2007 9:57:40 GMT -5
If I remember correctly what I've studied at school, gravity depends not only to radius of the planet but also to its mass, it's directly proportional to the mass and inversely proportional to the squared radius. I hope I'm not wrong, but if it's bigger maybe it has also more mass.
I thought it was interesting too, maybe it's due to an atmosphere diferent from the Earth's one.
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
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Post by Kristie on Apr 25, 2007 13:49:36 GMT -5
I saw a headline about this on Yahoo! earlier, but I didn't look at the article yet. I'll check it out, and the link you've posted. I think it would be awesome to have other living beings out there.
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Lu
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Post by Lu on Apr 26, 2007 4:32:35 GMT -5
My father said that there would be little and red light on that Earth-like planet because its star (Gliese 581) is a red dwarf. I can't remember what type of star is the Sun . I must find my old school text of astronomy and check it out.
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Apr 26, 2007 15:09:56 GMT -5
All I can find out about the Sun, as a star, is that it's in it's main sequence stage and will next be a red giant in 4-5 billion years. That's when the earth will be swallowed up as it expands and that will be the end of human existence. Unless maybe we move to this new planet where life may be possible...
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Post by bookaddict on Apr 26, 2007 20:25:50 GMT -5
That's really interesting. Thanks for the link.
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Post by caffeinequeen on Apr 29, 2007 14:13:15 GMT -5
wow, that's really really exciting! Imagine if it were actually inhabitable? Even finding a planet with liquid water is giant feat in itself. Wow *excited*
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Bina
First novel published
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Post by Bina on Apr 29, 2007 15:31:52 GMT -5
That´s amazing. I´m sure we´ll have to make due with whatever planets humans could possibly inhabitate once we´ve destroyed the earth. I´m still disappointed that pluto isn´t a planet any longer and mars isn´t green
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on May 1, 2007 15:18:04 GMT -5
I was pretty upset when Pluto was taken out of the solar system. What was the point?!
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Bina
First novel published
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Post by Bina on May 2, 2007 10:09:20 GMT -5
Exactly! Apparently sth about it not having any satellites.
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Michelle
First novel published
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Post by Michelle on May 2, 2007 10:22:11 GMT -5
I was very sad about Pluto. I think it was mostly because it had an odd orbit. I have a cartoon on my fridge where the planets are all gathered for a holiday meal and Pluto is saying "I can't believe I have to sit at the kids table."
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