Reference; http://www.universetoday.com/99091/five-planets-around-nearby-star-tau-ceti-one-in-habitable-zone/ Excerpt; While the recent discovery of a Earth-sized planet around the triple star system Alpha Centauri is the closest planet that has been discovered at just 4.3 light years away, this new discovery is the closest single sun-like star that we know of to host of an entire system of planets. The five planets are estimated to have masses between two and six times the mass of the Earth, making it the lowest-mass planetary system yet detected. The planet in the habitable zone of the star has a mass around five times that of Earth, making it the smallest planet found to be orbiting in the habitable zone of any Sun-like star. It makes sense to me that research be done on those solar systems nearest our Solar system. These systems are close enough to allow technical scrutiny and even communicate if ever applicable. We should be able to detect the compounds and atmosphere, biological signs, etc. of planets this close to us. I suspect if there is intelligent life out there, they are in the same boat as us in terms of our technology to deal with the vast distances to communicate and travel...so maybe they are looking at us like we are looking at them and pondering the same questions?? How do we on Earth create a high energy beacon to aim at these Goldilocks planets? It's just a matter of a short time before we find something...
why is it that whenever, we talk about the universe, we confidently apply that we really have the intelligence and full resources to fully conduct and get a positive result that is so serving to this stupid species. like as if we could actually be there and land successfuly. and how dare this species make a claim, such as, "The planet in the habitable zone of the star has a mass around five times that of Earth, making it the smallest planet found to be orbiting in the habitable zone of any Sun-like star." what a lot of rubbish.
Wouldn't it be nice if AnCappers already had an off the shelf product available. In my opinion, launching a probe should be a routine bureaucratic function.
Obviously you have no need to advance the knowledge/capabilities of the human species as well as making further discoveries about the Universe in which we reside...you are entitled to live in your closed and narrow-minded world but what's the point in being a burden on those who prefer to advance knowledge...
huh? me living in a closed and narrow minded world. you are the one who lives in a closed and narrow minded world, because all you do is listen, then echo, copy and paste. you think that what you see, hear and read are true? better think again. had moses (10 commandments of god) and jc (the son of god) been true, then maybe Man is entitled in telling the truth. Not until what had been said about moses, jc, the bible and the claim of god are all up dismmissed, Man shall never have the capability and capacity to tell the truth. Man is nothing but a stupid species. This is my belief, from the platform of Space.
Astronomers Predict Big Discovery In 2013... First 'Alien Earth' Will Be Found in 2013, Experts Say Thu, Dec 27, 2012 - The first truly Earth-like alien planet is likely to be spotted next year, an epic discovery that would cause humanity to reassess its place in the universe.
For some of us who believe the Earth is not unique, and who believe the geological and biological processes are similar across the Universe, and knowing the trillions +1 potential for planets, the idea of discovering an 'alien Earth' is not an 'if' scenario but a 'when' scenario. And IMO the 'when' is mostly determined by our technological capabilities to peer across vast distances and analyze what we find...
while I'm confident there is "adavnced" life out there among the 100's of billions of stars I believe finding it will be like winning the mother of all lotteries 1/100,000,000,000, if not much worse...
I agree it is a daunting challenge, however, as we find the funding for new technologies and equipment, I think we are shaving off a few zeros from your odds. Also, if we believe in 'advanced' life out there, then we must assume they are also looking for us and others. My biggest bugaboo in all of this SETI stuff is how we will discover another intelligent civilization during the potentially short time frame that they are in existence and are detectable. Investigate Earth in another 500 years and at the rate we're going we will have annihilated ourselves leaving no traces for others to find us. Regarding your odds, which is just a challenge...it would also be the MOTHER OF DISCOVERIES...
seems like they figured things out from observation that's how they dare - - - Updated - - - so your saying your lying to us and we can ignore you?
The biggest problem right now is these planets are being discovered through indirect means, and as far as I am aware only one planet has ever been directly imaged. The great news is the new Webb telescope has been designed and built expressly for direct observation. That is when our minds are truly going to be blown
I don't personally care what means they use for these discoveries or how accurate their findings might be. There is zero doubt in my mind that the entire Universe is constructed from similar elements all having some potential to evolve into something whether life exists or not. Why shouldn't every solar system have similar characteristics as our Solar system...meaning planets? Maybe we can never travel those distances but so what...knowing new stuff is just as satisfying...
We dont know enough yet to be able to predict a typical solar system. And our detection techniques put us in a little hole terms of sorts of planets we can find. I mention the Webb telescope because being able to image the planets light is going to give us a lot of clues as to their makeup, potential atmosphere, and even some markers for life.
Granny wantin' to know... ... if dey's the space aliens... ... dat been flingin' dem asteroids at us?
we drop one plant for not having enough ball mass make gods out of them kill the son now a new system has 4 suns spinning around it. i bet the preahers have a field day but this little thread is about (planets (dark matter of space)
I'm a firm believer in the statement; we only know what we know at this moment. But I also love to ask questions about things we don't yet know. And there's nothing wrong with 'scientific speculation' when it is based on reasonable current knowledge. For example, IMO there is no reason not to believe that all solar systems might have planets. It makes no difference how many planets, how small/large they are, their distance to their star, etc. No matter the current techniques for finding planets, when someone believes they found something, I say great! Time will tell how accurate their finding was...
I'm betting each of those asteroids has a Kamikaze space alien manning a rudder...and they are using those 'night vision goggles' to navigate through all of that dark matter...