NASA Telescope Confirms Alien Planet in Habitable Zone
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NASA Telescope Confirms Alien Planet in Habitable Zone
NASA Telescope Confirms Alien Planet in Habitable Zone
I am moving to Kepler-22b!
More on the story and project: http://news.yahoo.com/nasa-telescope...162005358.html
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — NASA's planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft has confirmed the discovery of its first alien world in its host star's habitable zone — that just-right range of distances that could allow liquid water to exist — and found more than 1,000 new explanet candidates, researchers announced today (Dec. 5).
The new finds bring the Kepler space telescope's total haul to 2,326 potential planets in its first 16 months of operation.These discoveries, if confirmed, would quadruple the current tally of worlds known to exist beyond our solar system, which recently topped 700.
The potentially habitable alien world, a first for Kepler, orbits a star very much like our own sun. The discovery brings scientists one step closer to finding a planet like our own — one which could conceivably harbor life, scientists said.
"We're getting closer and closer to discovering the so-called 'Goldilocks planet,'" Pete Worden, director of NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., said during a press conference today. [Gallery: The Strangest Alien Planets]
The newfound planet in the habitable zone is called Kepler-22b. It is located about 600 light-years away, orbiting a sun-like star.
Kepler-22b's radius is 2.4 times that of Earth, and the two planets have roughly similar temperatures. If the greenhouse effect operates there similarly to how it does on Earth, the average surface temperature on Kepler-22b would be 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius).
The new finds bring the Kepler space telescope's total haul to 2,326 potential planets in its first 16 months of operation.These discoveries, if confirmed, would quadruple the current tally of worlds known to exist beyond our solar system, which recently topped 700.
The potentially habitable alien world, a first for Kepler, orbits a star very much like our own sun. The discovery brings scientists one step closer to finding a planet like our own — one which could conceivably harbor life, scientists said.
"We're getting closer and closer to discovering the so-called 'Goldilocks planet,'" Pete Worden, director of NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., said during a press conference today. [Gallery: The Strangest Alien Planets]
The newfound planet in the habitable zone is called Kepler-22b. It is located about 600 light-years away, orbiting a sun-like star.
Kepler-22b's radius is 2.4 times that of Earth, and the two planets have roughly similar temperatures. If the greenhouse effect operates there similarly to how it does on Earth, the average surface temperature on Kepler-22b would be 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius).
I am moving to Kepler-22b!
More on the story and project: http://news.yahoo.com/nasa-telescope...162005358.html
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Joined: 06-30-2010
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From: Kannapolis NC
Thanks for posting this, I love the mathematical gymnastics required to figure out how long it would take to get to Kepler 22-b.
As of today the farthest man made object from Earth is Voyager 1 launched in 1977, it is currently 1.7924684×10X10 km from the Earth. At its current speed of 61,400 km/h or 38,200 mph, it would take 14,000 years to travel one light year. So to reach the new earth-like planet you would have to pack enough clean underwear and snacks for a journey lasting 8,400,000 years.
As of today the farthest man made object from Earth is Voyager 1 launched in 1977, it is currently 1.7924684×10X10 km from the Earth. At its current speed of 61,400 km/h or 38,200 mph, it would take 14,000 years to travel one light year. So to reach the new earth-like planet you would have to pack enough clean underwear and snacks for a journey lasting 8,400,000 years.
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From: Ontario Canada
The first carriage sized automobile suitable for use on existing wagon roads in the United States was a steam powered vehicle invented in 1871, by Dr. J.W. Carhart, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Racine, Wisconsin. It induced the State of Wisconsin in 1875, to offer a $10,000 award to the first to produce a practical substitute for the use of horses and other animals. They stipulated that the vehicle would have to maintain an average speed of more than five miles per hour over a 200 mile course. The offer led to the first city to city automobile race in the United States, starting on July 16, 1878, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and ending in Madison, via Appleton, Oshkosh, Waupun, Watertown, Fort Atkinson, and Janesville. While seven vehicles were registered, only two started to compete: the entries from Green Bay and Oshkosh. The vehicle from Green Bay was faster, but broke down before completing the race. The Oshkosh finished the 201 mile course in 33 hours and 27 minutes, and posted an average speed of six miles per hour. In 1879, the legislature awarded half the prize.[7] Time changes everything, even space travel.
Last edited by GOLFHHR; Dec 7, 2011 at 09:39 AM. Reason: addition
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