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Another new planet next door?
Posted on 2/15/21 at 8:40 pm
Posted on 2/15/21 at 8:40 pm
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We’re now familiar with the discovery of a couple of planets orbiting Proxima Centauri. This new one is circling Alpha Centauri A, however. It’s one of the two sun-like stars in the Centauri system.
It’s also exciting because it’s slap in the middle of the habitable zone. The discovery is preliminary and will have to be verified by other telescopes. If it pans out, it will be the first planet directly imaged in another sun-like star’s habitable zone. The planet candidate is approximately the same distance from Alpha Centauri A as earth is from the sun.
In image b on the right – a zoomed-in image of a on the left – the white dashed circle represents the inner edge of the habitable zone. The bright area labeled C1 is the planet candidate.
quote:
Astronomers have spotted “something” near Alpha Centauri A, in the star system nearest our Earth and sun. If it turns out to be a planet, it’ll be the first time a planet has been directly imaged within the habitable zone of a star.
We’re now familiar with the discovery of a couple of planets orbiting Proxima Centauri. This new one is circling Alpha Centauri A, however. It’s one of the two sun-like stars in the Centauri system.
It’s also exciting because it’s slap in the middle of the habitable zone. The discovery is preliminary and will have to be verified by other telescopes. If it pans out, it will be the first planet directly imaged in another sun-like star’s habitable zone. The planet candidate is approximately the same distance from Alpha Centauri A as earth is from the sun.
In image b on the right – a zoomed-in image of a on the left – the white dashed circle represents the inner edge of the habitable zone. The bright area labeled C1 is the planet candidate.
This post was edited on 2/22/21 at 3:38 pm
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Posted on 2/15/21 at 8:54 pm to Kentucker
This would be cool if true.
Posted on 2/15/21 at 10:26 pm to mulletproof
It’s amazing that we have the technilogy to do this without the James Webb Space Telescope which is supposed to launch on Halloween. It will easily image planets around stars out to about 20 light years.
If there are habitable planets around Alpha Centauri A and B, then the possibility of human colonization of their exoplanets will go up dramatically. They’re close enough for us to travel to them with miminal danger from space travel.
If there are habitable planets around Alpha Centauri A and B, then the possibility of human colonization of their exoplanets will go up dramatically. They’re close enough for us to travel to them with miminal danger from space travel.
Posted on 2/16/21 at 9:29 am to Kentucker
quote:
If there are habitable planets around Alpha Centauri A and B, then the possibility of human colonization of their exoplanets will go up dramatically. They’re close enough for us to travel to them with miminal danger from space travel.
We really do live in a time of wonders. Some of the new advancements in "drive" technology have me hopeful for a series of manned missions to Mars.
Posted on 2/16/21 at 11:13 pm to Arksulli
Manned missions to Mars will be exciting and I hope they’ll revive a passion for space exploration in Americans. If we wait too long, we might be scooped by the Chinese.
They are pouring tremendous amounts of money into their space program and are producing astounding results. I can see them launching manned missions within the next 5 years.
They are pouring tremendous amounts of money into their space program and are producing astounding results. I can see them launching manned missions within the next 5 years.
Posted on 2/23/21 at 12:35 am to Kentucker
It would be mind blowing if this planet was life sustaining or even harbored intelligence.
And had an Auburn that sucked and an UGA that choked.
Evidence of a humorous God.
And had an Auburn that sucked and an UGA that choked.
Evidence of a humorous God.
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