European Astrophysicists have uncovered something unexpected orbiting newly discovered star KOI-351. This star has 7 planets, which in and of itself in unusual, but even more unexpected was the arrangement of these planets.
The arrangement of planets around KOI-351 is remarkably similar to our own system with the small rocky planets close in and the gas giants in the outer orbits.
Astrophysicist Juan Cabrera commenting on the importance of the discovery said that it is a big step in the search for a twin to the Solar System (and a step closer) in finding a second Earth.
Of course the placement of the planets is not completely ideal. All the planets orbits fit inside of Earth own orbit with the gas giants where Earth's orbit resides in the solar system.
Check out the Daily Galaxy article here
Check out the Daily Galaxy article here
6 comments:
I still say we need to forget this second Earth stuff. 1, we aren't that important in the universe to think there will be another planet like ours out there somewhere even.
2. By focusing on such, we may be passing by planets that have life, that we are being too dense to even realize it in our quest to show important we are that there is another planet like ours. I go on the assumption that there is life till it is proven there isn't. And considering how we have found an abundance of life, advanced life, where we said a few years ago nothing could live, shows what I am saying. Looking at a planet anywhere, and deciding with the little info we have that there could not be life there, to me anyway, is a sure fire way to look really stupid in the future. Not to mention I find it extremely short sighted, and arrogant to think that any life elsewhere in the universe is even carbon based. We are, doesn't mean something else is. There could be life out there somewhere, where water and oxygen are actually poison to them. Just because we have to have it, doesn't mean that every species in existence out there does. They could be out there, seen our world, and like us decided that nothing could ever live there because of our water and oxygen content.
Just my thoughts on the subject. I've been gone awhile, been waiting to get back here and shoot off my lips. Feels freaking good to be back too let me tell you.
ok here are my thoughts. We HAVE to look for "second Earth" why? Because that is life as we know it. We absolutely HAVE to find a world with an O2 atmosphere and some form of carbon based life inhabiting it. Once we have that, humanity has a stepping off point. Your right, we are most likely forgoing planets with life, but honestly, without many years of research, I doubt that we could recognize say a silicon lifeforms even if it were to tap us on the ankle. Lets get out there, go for the known while we ask ourselves "ok, where are you little buggers at?"
If we would happen to find one, I will say that might then get enough people back into this that we could advance ourselves again. Especially since it would become more than likely another international race like the moon landing.
Oh it would, never fear, but that is why I say that our cherr.....oh man I almost went there....our first planet with life has to be a carbon based one. Anything else and more than half will argue if it (alternative life form)is truly alive...
Yeah, that is something I have also considered. The mentality on this planet sometimes doesn't make a lot of sense. Personally, after all these years with homo-sapiens, I think I just want another type of life form. Maybe they would make a little more sense, even if I didn't understand them. And you are probably right as well. But I personally would be much more excited, (not that I wouldn't be screaming to go whatever we found) if we would come across a silicone or crystalline life form. Or for that matter a life form that lives so outside our perception, such as the depths of space itself, that it would send this planet on it's ear. Though there are quite a few of us that can imagine this very easily, and even conceive of ways it could actually live.
I am going to have to play devil's advocate on lifeforms here. The idea of crystalline based life is wildly science fictioney but is it really possible. I have to say that I really don't think so. Crystals are very very stable structure. Not something that lends itself well to biological processes. Carbon based on the other hand is the exact opposite being able to generate carbon based proteins and polysaccharides in a wildly diverse environment. So to modify my first comment, our first non Earth bio-form will be carbon based for no other reason than I believe that carbon based biology is a much more attractive base to build more complex life onto.
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