Astronomers say they have for the first time spotted a planet beyond our own in what is sometimes called the Goldilockszone for life: Not too hot, not too cold. Juuuust right.
Not too far from its star, not too close. So it could contain liquid water. The planet itself is neither too big nor too small for the proper surface, gravity and atmosphere.
It's just right. Just like Earth.
"This really is the first Goldilocks planet," said co-discoverer R. Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.
The new planet sits smack in the middle of what astronomers refer to as the habitable zone, unlike any of the nearly 500 other planets astronomers have found outside our solar system. And it is in our galactic neighborhood, suggesting that plenty of Earth-like planets circle other stars.
Finding a planet that could potentially support life is a major step toward answering the timeless question: Are we alone?
nice. I'm outta here.
ReplyDeleteFinding a planet like that is a huge discovery for the survival of the human race. I'm not suggesting that this planet is doomed. I simply believe that it is in the best interests of our species to find planets like that and find a way to colonize them. An entire species is too important to gamble on the future of a single planet or even a single solar system.
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