As recently as 1995, we had no evidence that planets existed around other stars. It was just a logical assumption that extra-solar planets must exist. Since then, we have found hundreds of planets orbiting other stars, most of them gas giants like Jupiter. But recently a smaller planet has been found orbiting Gliese 581 about 20 light-years away. What makes this planet even more interesting is that it orbits its ref dwarf parent star at a distance that scientist theorize could allow for a temperate climate. The planet's surface temperatures are estimated at between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius which is warm enough to support liquid water.
The planet has roughly five times the mass of the earth, making it the smallest planet found outside our solar system. Astronomers believe that the planet is either very rocky or completely covered in oceans. While there is no direct evidence as to the make up of the atmosphere or even if liquid water is actually present on the surface, the mere possibility is exciting since water is essential for life (as we know it) to thrive. This is the third planet found orbiting Gliese 581.
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Comments
10
Subscribe to commentsRichard BlockerJul 22nd 2007 3:54PM
This is nothing new everyone knows that life is on other plant's. They keep saying that there is no life out there but if that is true then there could not be any radio waves comming from outter space which they say all thr time that they pick up do they take us to be stupid.
GailJul 23rd 2007 12:30AM
I NEVER HAVE BELIEVED THAT GOD SCATTERED THE UNIVERSE, FILLED WITH MANY THINGS WE HAVE NOT SEEN YET AND MAY NEVER SEE WHILE LIVING ON THIS EARTH, WITHOUT A PURPOSE.
THE BIBLE CONTINUALLY TELLS US GOD CREATED. THAT DOES NOT MEAN ONLY THE CREATION OF MAN OR THIS EARTH. HE HAS CREATED BILLIONS OF GALAXIES.
WITH HUBBLE AND THE SPACE PROBES, WE HAVE FOUND MANY PLANETS AND ETC.THAT WE NEVER KNEW WAS OUT THERE.
THEREFORE, I DON'T BELIEVE GOD IS A FOOLISH GOD AND WASTED HIS TIME IN SPACE WITHOUT CREATING OTHER LIFE OUT THERE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT KIND OF LIFE, ON THIS EARTH WE HAVE HUMAN LIFE, PLANT LIFE, ANIMAL LIFE, ETC., BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE WILL FIND OTHERS JUST LIKE US OUT THERE, BUT THERE COULD BE.
I BELIEVE, WE ON PLANET EARTH ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE REBELLED AGAINST GOD ! TELL ME WHY HE WOULD ALLOW US TO GO OUT THERE AND CONTAMINATE THE OTHER LIFE AND PLANETS AS WE HAVE ON THIS EARTH?
THINK ABOUT ALL THIS !
JenJul 23rd 2007 1:47AM
Wow...that is too cool. Hey Gail and Richard, Maybe the Radio waves are God? How about that?
TJAug 12th 2007 2:11PM
Atta girl, Jen! Gotta wonder if someone was doing Meth or something while coming up with those comments! Or maybe they have a different version of the Bible! Hope you boys said your prayers tonight when you laid down your heads.....Maybe those radio waves will be interpreted??? (in your dreams). hahaha
JJul 23rd 2007 8:19AM
Richard Blocker's comments smack of mental illness, poor education, or both. Radio signals emerge from all sorts of bodies and phenomena in the cosmos, far too many to describe. What you seem to be trying to discuss instead is the possibility of artificial radio signals received from space. As yet, no conclusively artificial radio signals have been detected originating from anywhere but right here on Earth. The search continues.
But thanks for pretending that it isn't important something like this has been found. Care to catalog your own discoveries for the readers here? got a telescope on the roof of your doublewide, perhaps?
As for what "THE BIBLE CONTINUALLY TELLS US," Gail...how exactly does this relate to the topic? (Caps lock: cruise control for cool!)
heyhenleyJul 23rd 2007 12:31PM
alien life, life after death, the truth is out there , or is it?
ParkerAug 13th 2007 12:36PM
If we found intelligent life on anouther planet what would be your first impulse... Destroy it or risk being destroyed by it?
FDRHARRIUSOct 25th 2007 3:27PM
Who said that there is intelligent life on Earth is dumb. With all this killing and wars HE must have made EARTH the dumping ground for killers of HIS Children. If that is so then we are all brothers and sisters being wiped outby terrorists
FDRHARRIUSOct 25th 2007 3:27PM
Who said that there is intelligent life on Earth is dumb. With all this killing and wars HE must have made EARTH the dumping ground for killers of HIS Children. If that is so then we are all brothers and sisters being wiped outby terrorists
Kevin MillerDec 14th 2007 1:08AM
The Bible states that GOD created the heavens and the earth. Where does it say that GOD created the heavens and the earth, the ONLY planet that HE deemed fit to place life? My personal thoughts would lean toward GOD seeding several worlds with life of some sort. Our problem as a people is the more we take GOD out of our lives the more we seem to spiral down towards evil. Look back 50 years. We had GOD in our schools, our government, our homes and our hearts. Oh what terrifying and troubled time we lived in WAY back then. Just food for thought.