[Nik]

Very cool stuff:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- European astronomers have spotted what they say is the most Earth-like planet yet outside our solar system, with balmy temperatures that could support water and, potentially, life.

They have not directly seen the planet, orbiting a red dwarf star called Gliese 581. But measurements of the star suggest that a planet not much larger than the Earth is pulling on it, the researchers say in a letter to the editor of the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

"This one is the first one that is at the same time probably rocky, with water, and in a zone close to the star where the water could exist in liquid form," said Stephane Udry of the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland, who led the study.

"We have estimated that the mean temperature of this super-Earth lies between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius, and water would thus be liquid."

Most of the 200 or so planets that have been spotted outside this solar system have been gas giants like Jupiter. But this one is small.

"Its radius should be only 1.5 times the Earth's radius, and models predict that the planet should be either rocky, like our Earth, or covered with oceans," Udry said in a telephone interview.

It appears to have a mass five times that of Earth's.

The research team includes scientists credited with the first widely accepted discovery of a planet outside our solar system, in 1995.

Many teams are looking for planets circling other stars. They are especially looking for those similar to our own, planets that could support life.

That means finding water.

Full story:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/0...eut/index.html

[Rick]

Holy shit.

Will Drew have his album out before we start living there?

Will the 100k topic contest be over?

We may never know either one.

[Volsung]

I read that in the paper earlier today. Sounds pretty damn cool to me.

Now the next time somebody spots a UFO, flag it down so they can give us a ride to the place.

[Ryan]

That's awesome news.

[tonyhell]

I wonder how long it will take us to break that one.

[TomAwesome]

That's great! I wonder if we'll end up sending a probe.

[Naren]

That's pretty interesting news there.

Originally Posted by TomAwesome

That's great! I wonder if we'll end up sending a probe.

Sure. And it'll only get there in 300 million years.

You have to understand the distances involved here. When it takes light thousands of years to get somewhere, you can only imagine how long it'll take to send a probe.

[Scott]

No worries. Just gotta start working on that warp drive.


Or find that damn Stargate.

[Naren]

Originally Posted by Scott

No worries. Just gotta start working on that warp drive.


Or find that damn Stargate.

If either of those happens, this "Earth-like planet" will become quite insignificant. "We found a fucking stargate, dude!"

[TomAwesome]

Originally Posted by Naren

Sure. And it'll only get there in 300 million years.

You have to understand the distances involved here. When it takes light thousands of years to get somewhere, you can only imagine how long it'll take to send a probe.

True. Normally I'd have realized that before I said anything, especially as much as I watch the Science Channel. I should stay away from forums for about an hour after I wake up until I eat or something.