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Meet TESS, Seeker of Alien Worlds
Posted on 3/29/18 at 6:30 pm
Posted on 3/29/18 at 6:30 pm
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This is amazing news. We're launching two alien world seekers this year, not just one. The James Webb Space Telescope will blast off in October but this little gem will fly in just 18 days.
I've always thought that we should examine our immediate neighborhood first and then work out from there. Seems we'll be doing both concurrently. That's great. Can't wait for the discoveries to start rolling in.
This is amazing news. We're launching two alien world seekers this year, not just one. The James Webb Space Telescope will blast off in October but this little gem will fly in just 18 days.
I've always thought that we should examine our immediate neighborhood first and then work out from there. Seems we'll be doing both concurrently. That's great. Can't wait for the discoveries to start rolling in.
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No earlier than 6:32 p.m. on April 16, in NASA’s fractured parlance, a little spacecraft known as the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, bristling with cameras and ambition, will ascend on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in a blaze of smoke and fire and take up a lengthy residence between the moon and the Earth.
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TESS is the latest effort to try to answer questions that have intrigued humans for millenniums and dominated astronomy for the last three decades: Are we alone? Are there other Earths? Evidence of even a single microbe anywhere else in the galaxy would rock science.
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the TESS team expects to find some 500 Earth-sized planets within 300 light-years of here, close enough for a coming generation of telescopes on the ground and in space to examine for habitability — or perhaps even inhabitants.
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The mission’s planners say they eventually expect to catalog 20,000 new exoplanet candidates of all shapes and sizes. In particular, they have promised to come up with the masses and orbits of 50 new planets that are less than four times the size of the Earth.
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Posted on 3/29/18 at 7:30 pm to Kentucker
This is pretty exciting stuff. I have no doubt there is alien life in the universe. At this point, will we only be able to detect planets that are in the potential “Goldilocks Zone”? Once we are able to pin down potential planets that may harbor life, what will be the next step in order to verify life exists outside of Earth?
This post was edited on 3/29/18 at 7:31 pm
Posted on 3/29/18 at 8:06 pm to Year of the Dragon
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At this point, will we only be able to detect planets that are in the potential “Goldilocks Zone”?
With this Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, yes we'll only be able to see exoplanets in orbit around nearby stars. We may be able to also see large moons of very large planets but that's just a guess on my part.
Of course, this is the telescope's main function. Other telescopes, specifically the James Webb Space Telescope, will be able to analyze the atmospheres of exoplanets that TESS finds.
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Once we are able to pin down potential planets that may harbor life, what will be the next step in order to verify life exists outside of Earth?
Looking for bio markers. The most obvious ones will be oxygen and methane. While there are geological processes that can generate either, the presence of both in an atmosphere is a certain indication of life.
There are other markers, of course. We can look for signs of industrial pollution, for example.
Posted on 3/29/18 at 8:22 pm to Kentucker
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We may be able to also see large moons of very large planets
I hadn’t considered this but that would also be a potential place to look for alien life. Have scientists pretty much concluded that Europa has no potential in our galaxy?
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the James Webb Space Telescope, will be able to analyze the atmospheres of exoplanets that TESS finds.
This is extremely exciting. It definitely makes what you said about looking for bio markers all the more profound. If we are fortunate enough to discover these in the atmosphere, it’s highly likely life is present. This would be a gigantic step in proving we are not alone.
Off topic, what are your thoughts if we found a planet or moon in which humans could survive. I know that’s a long shot, but do you ever see humans being able to colonize any of these?
This post was edited on 3/29/18 at 8:23 pm
Posted on 3/29/18 at 9:25 pm to Year of the Dragon
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Have scientists pretty much concluded that Europa has no potential in our galaxy?
Gosh, no. NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is in the development stage. Exploration of Enceladus is also planned.
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Off topic, what are your thoughts if we found a planet or moon in which humans could survive. I know that’s a long shot, but do you ever see humans being able to colonize any of these?
Well, human colonization of other worlds is a contentious topic with me. I think evolution has bound us so tightly to earth that we can’t exist anywhere else. To me, the only species that can travel to other planets is an artificial one, AI.
We will be its creators and can design it to be able to quickly adapt to changes that our biological bodies could never withstand. We’re well underway in AI development and will probably see its evolution to a sentient species within the next few decades.
Posted on 3/29/18 at 9:57 pm to Kentucker
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To me, the only species that can travel to other planets is an artificial one, AI.
I tend to agree with your opinion on AI. However, I think I’ve watched too much sci-fi and still fantasize about humans being able to travel and colonize other planets. Unfortunately, I believe you are correct about evolution bounding us to Earth. Like you, I still feel getting to these planets would be the biggest hurdle even if the planet/moon was habitable.
This post was edited on 3/29/18 at 10:00 pm
Posted on 3/29/18 at 10:13 pm to Kentucker
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NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is in the development stage. Exploration of Enceladus is also planned.
I did not know this was in the works. This is super cool. I’m glad to hear that scientists are still looking for life in our galaxy.
Posted on 3/29/18 at 10:22 pm to Year of the Dragon
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I’m glad to hear that scientists are still looking for life in our galaxy.
Like never before. From SETI to TESS, JWST and solar system moon explorations we, the Chinese, Japanese and Europeans are jointly making almost every effort possible to detect ET life. I personally predict we’ll find something by 2024.
Posted on 3/29/18 at 11:11 pm to Kentucker
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I personally predict we’ll find something by 2024.
I hope you are right. What a time to be alive!
Posted on 3/30/18 at 6:31 am to Kentucker
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This is amazing news
Careful......it's possible that we might not like what we find
Posted on 3/30/18 at 12:28 pm to Wtodd
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Careful......it's possible that we might not like what we find
You sound like Stephen Hawking.
He was anxious about alien contact, too. Specifically intelligent aliens. I think many people fear contact with aliens because humans are so violent and aggressive. It's what we know.
What we have to remember is that we have other traits, too. Perhaps our most dominant reason for exploration is curiosity. We have an inherent need to know.
We don't send out exploratory space missions with offensive or defensive weapons. It's extremely unlikely that alien civilizations would either.
This post was edited on 3/30/18 at 12:29 pm
Posted on 3/30/18 at 12:53 pm to CNB
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The good ole Great Filter
Good video. I think the Great Filter is happening for us right now. Intelligence is the zenith for any biological species.
Humans are as intelligent as we will ever be. Will this help us advance or kill us all? We're developing technology at an almost exponential rate but destroying our environment at the same time.
Humans are increasing the lifespan of the species but wars are still all too common. We have more food than ever in the history of mankind but are killing ourselves by overeating.
We have obviously not passed through the Great Filter of intelligence. It seems incredible that we evolved to this point in the first place but being able to manage the consequences of being intelligent may not be achievable. Humans may not be smart enough for their own good.
Posted on 4/9/18 at 1:53 pm to Kentucker
I thought the search for alien life ended when researchers discovered The Paul Finebaum show
Posted on 4/9/18 at 2:37 pm to Kentucker
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Meet TESS, Destroyer of Alien Worlds
Posted on 4/10/18 at 9:50 am to Kentucker
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I've always thought that we should examine our immediate neighborhood first and then work out from there.
No need to even leave the neighborhood, Planet X AKA Nibiru and the Annunaki should be making their way back soon enough.
Posted on 4/10/18 at 4:49 pm to BowlJackson
I can’t wait until there’s a jihad on the alien microbe. Islam and the fundie Xtians are gonna go ape shite.
Posted on 4/10/18 at 5:35 pm to Kcprogguitar
It will certainly be interesting to see the reactions of fundamentalists to the discovery of ET life.
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