Earthlike planet next door

[miami]

Oh wow

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37167390

Scientists say their investigations of the closest star, Proxima Centauri, show it to have an Earth-sized planet orbiting about it.
What is more, this rocky globe is moving in a zone that would make liquid water on its surface a possibility.
...
"This planet is at 5% of the Earth's distance from the Sun. However, Proxima is 1,000 times fainter than the Sun. So the flux - the energy - reaching Proxima b is about 70% of what the Earth receives. It's like taking Earth a bit further away, but it's comparable," explained Dr Anglada-Escudé.

I find discoveries like this really exciting

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Not very shocking since it was all over the internet two weeks ago.
Anyway, there's no life in that system in Star Trek, or on Elite 2.

Great discovery though as we have a location for Earth 2 in 70,000 years time (assuming no increase in speeds).
It's under four weeks away at warp 4, that's close!

There's also planets in Alpha Centauri, many more yet to be found. Exoplanet discoveries are great and will increase from the 3,000 today fast.

 

[J-2739]

Is this another No Mans Sky discovery?

 

[DaleCooper]

Earthlike planet next door

I'm sure I would have noticed it.

 

[SS4]

Of course next door in astronomical terms is not close at all but it's still interesting to hear

 

[miami]

Of course next door in astronomical terms is not close at all but it's still interesting to hear

It's close enough that if we did detect life in some fashion there's a good chance of it resulting in a meaningful conversation in my lifetime.

Go 40ly away and that won't happen.

 

[me123]

It's a big discovery that will undoubtedly make the planet the prime target for our first exploration beyond the solar system. The presence of life on this planet will be the greatest discovery in scientific history. But even a negative result will be hugely important. It will give us strong hints as to what is necessary for life.

Sadly, I doubt that we'll be able to actually get to it in our lifetime. It will take many thousands of years with the current technology. The "Wait Calculation" is important to consider - there's probably no point in us launching a probe tomorrow that will take 70000 years, because we would expect to have much better technology within that time that will overtake the probe. Current estimates are, I believe, that we should wait somewhere in the region of 1000 years. That's not hugely exciting news. Even then, we have to wait another four years from when the probe starts exploring until we can know what's happened (unless we can develop technology that transmits data faster than the speed of light). Basically - if you're looking to find photos like this in our lifetime, don't hold your breath.

What we will probably see in our lifetime is analysis of the planet from earth, and it's quite amazing what we can tell just by looking at our planet - most notably analysis of the planet's atmosphere. I suspect that such distant experiments will evolve much faster than interstellar travel. It's also surely going to be a target for SETI astronomers - although a negative result doesn't mean that there isn't life on the planet.

 

[Gutfright]

I don't think there is any intelligent life anywhere else in the universe. I base this on an in-depth knowledge of biochemistry, abiogenesis and a great understanding of statistical probability the fact that Professor Brian Cox off of the telly said the same thing once.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Of course next door in astronomical terms is not close at all but it's still interesting to hear

What is the estimated distance away from Earth and based on current technology, how long would it take a space vessel take to reach it?

 

[Bevan Price]

What is the estimated distance away from Earth and based on current technology, how long would it take a space vessel take to reach it?

Distance from earth (from Wikipedia) is 4.4 light years, or,
[4.4 x 9460730472580800 metres] (exactly)

Escape Velocity from earth is about 11.2 Km/sec (11,200 m/sec). Current spacecraft travel just a bit faster than escape velocity.

Not got calculator handy to calculate journey time.

 

[me123]

I don't think there is any intelligent life anywhere else in the universe. I base this on an in-depth knowledge of biochemistry, abiogenesis and a great understanding of statistical probability the fact that Professor Brian Cox off of the telly said the same thing once.

I think there probably is other intelligent life in the universe. The universe is unimaginably huge, and it seems statically unlikely that we are the only intelligent beings. The chances of us actually discovering and communicating with an intelligent alien species are, however, very slim indeed. Again it is the scale of the universe that dictates this.

 

[Gutfright]

I think there probably is other intelligent life in the universe. The universe is unimaginably huge, and it seems statically unlikely that we are the only intelligent beings. The chances of us actually discovering and communicating with an intelligent alien species are, however, very slim indeed. Again it is the scale of the universe that dictates this.

The other factor to take into account is the likelihood of basic chemical building blocks aligning in such a way as to create life forms. If you have a planet with all the ingredients for life, how probable is it that life will develop after n years? Once we can answer that question we will have a much better idea of how many life forms we can expect to meet.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

I'm sure I would have noticed it.

Most likely your neighbours had hidden it in the cellar.

 

[Giugiaro]

Sadly, I doubt that we'll be able to actually get to it in our lifetime. It will take many thousands of years with the current technology. The "Wait Calculation" is important to consider - there's probably no point in us launching a probe tomorrow that will take 70000 years, because we would expect to have much better technology within that time that will overtake the probe.

There's one technology that could give a significant advance to those estimates. Project Orion. Supposedly a "Momentum Limited" Orion Ship would take 133 years to reach Alpha Centauri without slowing down, according to Freeman Dyson's previsions. Other factors and technologies can make this journey time more or less extensive.

Heck, even the UK had Project Daedalus, for a probe with a similar propulsion to reach 12% the speed of light towards Barnard's Star.

The reason why these projects where archived was the concern of nuclear proliferation and war, during the Cold War, and development around nuclear technology has grown increasingly a Tabu. Plus, these vessels where considerably big, and would require a more economical and efficient way to get sections of the ship from earth to orbit for final assembly. A Space Elevator would be the best option, but we currently do not have the materials to sustain such high tensions (but we do have proper materials to build one on the Moon).

 

[Springs Branch]

Regarding the probability of life outside our solar systems, does anyone know how many of the Earth-like exoplanets so far detected are actually dual planet systems like our Earth & Moon?

While it's true that other planets have their own satellites, our Moon is unusually large in proportion to the size of the Earth. Its mass results in much stronger tidal forces in the Earth's oceans and more active plate tectonics on the surface than would be the case if we had a small, "normal" sized moon, or no moons at all.

It has been said that strong tides and rapid circulation (on a geological timescale) of minerals from the Earth's interior via tectonic plates was a benefit for speedy development of complex & intelligent life. Not to say that having a moon is an absolute necessity, rather that it accelerates and enhances the progress of life.

You'd expect other planets which are similar dual systems to our own would also see this benefit. Although there may also be a "goldilocks zone" with the size of a companion moon - too small and it does not cause much gravitational effect / tidal motion, too large and strong gravitational effects produce a very violent, unstable environment on the planet's surface which might hinder development of advanced lifeforms.

 

[Springs Branch]

Regarding the probability of life outside our solar systems, does anyone know how many of the Earth-like exoplanets so far detected are actually dual planet systems like our Earth & Moon?

While it's true that other planets have their own satellites, our Moon is unusually large in proportion to the size of the Earth. Its mass results in much stronger tidal forces in the Earth's oceans and more active plate tectonics on the surface than would be the case if we had a small, "normal" sized moon, or no moons at all.

It has been said that strong tides and rapid circulation (on a geological timescale) of minerals from the Earth's interior via tectonic plates was a benefit for speedy development of complex & intelligent life. Not to say that having a moon is an absolute necessity, rather that it accelerates and enhances the progress of life.

You'd expect other planets which are similar dual systems to our own would also see this benefit. Although there may also be a "goldilocks zone" with the size of a companion moon - too small and it does not cause much gravitational effect / tidal motion, too large and strong gravitational effects produce a very violent, unstable environment on the planet's surface which might hinder development of advanced lifeforms.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There's one technology that could give a significant advance to those estimates. Project Orion. Supposedly a "Momentum Limited" Orion Ship would take 133 years to reach Alpha Centauri without slowing down, according to Freeman Dyson's previsions.

Now we know where those aliens who now have caused havoc in the Labour Party have been....

 

[miami]

Distance from earth (from Wikipedia) is 4.4 light years, or,
[4.4 x 9460730472580800 metres] (exactly)

No.

Firstly Proxima is about 4.25 light years away (4.246 ± 0.006 ly - that's a margin of arround 57 billion km)

Then Earth's rotation around our sun means that the distance varies upto 300 milion km.

Thirdly this planet will be a distance from Proxima.

Fourthly you don't travel in a straight line when you're talking about orbital mechanics.

Escape Velocity from earth is about 11.2 Km/sec (11,200 m/sec). Current spacecraft travel just a bit faster than escape velocity.

Escape velocity at Earth's surface is about 11,186m/s. Launching from the Equator gives you a boost of about 465m/s off that.

However that's irrelevent, as escape velocity from the Sun at the distance of the Earth is 42kps.

One of our fastest spaceships was New Horizons (I think Voyager 2 may have been faster) , leaving Earth at 45kps (including the 30kps boost from Earth's orbit). That slowed by Jupiter to about 20kps, then had a gravity assist to boost it back to about 23kps. This is all relative to the sun, and not in any particular direction.

Not got calculator handy to calculate journey time.

All computers with web access have calculators. However calculating time to Proxmia isn't a matter of punching in numbers.

 

[DarloRich]

No.

Firstly Proxima is about 4.25 light years away (4.246 ± 0.006 ly - that's a margin of arround 57 billion km)

Then Earth's rotation around our sun means that the distance varies upto 300 milion km.

Thirdly this planet will be a distance from Proxima.

Fourthly you don't travel in a straight line when you're talking about orbital mechanics.



Escape velocity at Earth's surface is about 11,186m/s. Launching from the Equator gives you a boost of about 465m/s off that.

However that's irrelevent, as escape velocity from the Sun at the distance of the Earth is 42kps.

One of our fastest spaceships was New Horizons (I think Voyager 2 may have been faster) , leaving Earth at 45kps (including the 30kps boost from Earth's orbit). That slowed by Jupiter to about 20kps, then had a gravity assist to boost it back to about 23kps. This is all relative to the sun, and not in any particular direction.



All computers with web access have calculators. However calculating time to Proxmia isn't a matter of punching in numbers.

Can we not just agree it is a LONG way? The distance is such that it is not easy to either calculate or comprehend!

 

[LexyBoy]

Agreed. Sandwiches and a good book definitely required.

The other factor to take into account is the likelihood of basic chemical building blocks aligning in such a way as to create life forms. If you have a planet with all the ingredients for life, how probable is it that life will develop after n years? Once we can answer that question we will have a much better idea of how many life forms we can expect to meet.

Based on the only place we know of with life, the answer looks like "very probable". Life appeared on Earth almost immediately after the planet cooled enough for oceans to form.

AIUI, life on Earth is probably quite "early" in the timescale of the Universe, as rocky planets couldn't have formed much sooner since the heavy elements wouldn't have existed. In any case it seems much more probable that there is life elsewhere than not - whether we ever find evidence of it is another matter!

 

[Trog]

I don't think there is any intelligent life anywhere else in the universe.

I don't see much evidence for intelligent life on this planet, let alone anywhere else.

 

[TheEdge]

I believe there is just no way we can be alone. The numbers involved are so unfathomably huge I cannot see how intelligent life cannot exist elsewhere in the universe. On a galatic level I reckon it is still likely. The chances of SETI picking something up or for the little green men to turn however I reckon is unlikely.

Although it would be amazing if there was intelligent life on a planet only 4LY away...

 

[DarloRich]

I believe there is just no way we can be alone. The numbers involved are so unfathomably huge I cannot see how intelligent life cannot exist elsewhere in the universe. On a galatic level I reckon it is still likely. The chances of SETI picking something up or for the little green men to turn however I reckon is unlikely.

Although it would be amazing if there was intelligent life on a planet only 4LY away...

with the little green men saying we have found this planet only 47 quarrks away which seems to be inhabited by little men of various colours!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

When making comparisons between humanoid life forms and other life forms, let us always be aware of the line from the song "Star Trekkin".....

"It's life, Jim, but not as we know it"....
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

with the little green men saying we have found this planet only 47 quarrks away which seems to be inhabited by little men of various colours!

The nearest "quarks" to where I live are often heard on the farm pond of the farm to the left elevation of our property....

 

[DynamicSpirit]

The nearest "quarks" to where I live are often heard on the farm pond of the farm to the left elevation of our property....

Strange that you have to go so far to find them. The nearest quarks to where I live appear to be scattered throughout the walls and floors and roof of my house. In fact they seem to be everywhere even inside my own body!

 

[Harbornite]

The nearest "quarks" to where I live are often heard on the farm pond of the farm to the left elevation of our property....

That reminds me of one of my classmates who answered an exam question about quarks by drawing a duck. I don't think they passed.

 

[SS4]

That reminds me of one of my classmates who answered an exam question about quarks by drawing a duck. I don't think they passed.

Perhaps they were trying to draw a strange quark

 

[TheEdge]

Strange that you have to go so far to find them. The nearest quarks to where I live appear to be scattered throughout the walls and floors and roof of my house. In fact they seem to be everywhere even inside my own body!

Science joke!

 

[miami]

Perhaps they were trying to draw a strange quark

I wonder if the charm worked, and they gave top marks? You hav eto take the ups with the downs of course otherwise you'll be left at the bottom of the heap.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

with the little green men saying we have found this planet only 47 quarrks away which seems to be inhabited by little men of various colours!

Quark was in the episode Little Green Men - Roswell 1947



We've always assumed that we'll detect any advanced civilisation from stray radio waves, however in under 150 years we've gone from radio silence to massive amounts of radio noise, and are well on the way back to radio silence, not just as we move more and more to cabled communication, but as our EM broadcasts are more efficient - Crystal Palace used to broadcast 1MW in the analogue days, it's down to 200kW now, and I suspect by the 200th anniversary of Marconi's first broadcasts we won't be broadcasting at all, and instead using very lower power wireless communication which is indistinguishable from low levels of white noise.

 

[DarloRich]

is a quark a thing then? I thought it was a soft cheese.