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Space & Astronomy

Possible Earth 2.0 found 16 light years away

By T.K. Randall
April 20, 2016 · Comment icon 23 comments

Could there be an Earth-like world just 16 light years away ? Image Credit: NASA
Astronomers have discovered what they believe is a potentially Earth-like world in a nearby solar system.
Found in orbit around red dwarf star GJ 832, the new planet is thought to lie within the 'Golidlocks zone' where liquid water can exist and may have a mass approximately 15 times that of the Earth.

It lies alongside two other worlds of which one of these - Gliese 832b - is a gas giant around 60% the mass of Jupiter and the other - Gliese 832c - is a smaller but hostile world similar to Venus.

The third planet by contrast, which is thought to exist sandwiched between the other two, seems like it could be a much more favorable place to look for signs of extraterrestrial life.
It was found using a technique known as 'radial velocity method' (RV) which works by detecting and analyzing periodic shifts in the frequency of the starlight.

While the new planet's existence has yet to be confirmed, its location just 16 light years away would mean that it is practically on our doorstep compared to most other known extrasolar worlds.

As telescopes become more powerful we may even be able to view it directly before too long.

Source: Discovery News | Comments (23)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #14 Posted by Aardvark-DK 8 years ago
Our Planet only works with 3.0 or higher, I would disregard that version, I bet it's like WinME or Win8... Not to mention all people are not ready for the upgrade yet, they are incompatible...
Comment icon #15 Posted by Sundew 8 years ago
Hey, hey, hey....lets not use confusing language such as "planet nearly totally dissimilar to Earth discovered at unfathomably huge distance away from us". But rather focus on things people can understand such as "HOLY **** **** EARTH'S TWIN FOUND SO CLOSE THAT IS BRUSHES UP AGAINST US AS WE SLEEP, AS A MATTER OF A FACT YOUR MORNING BREATH IS THIS PLANET'S ACTUAL ATMOSPHERE, THAT'S JUST HOW CLOSE SHE IS!" The sarcasm is strong with this one!
Comment icon #16 Posted by psyche101 8 years ago
But in reality and the way technology is moving. The warp drive from NASA can't be far off. So I reckon, hi ho off we go Not far off you reckon? We do not even know how to begin building it!! It is only theory, nothing more. Not to mention that the Alpha System is a great deal closer? This might offer some perspective? - LINK 100 Year Starship
Comment icon #17 Posted by paperdyer 8 years ago
Hey, hey, hey....lets not use confusing language such as "planet nearly totally dissimilar to Earth discovered at unfathomably huge distance away from us". But rather focus on things people can understand such as "HOLY **** **** EARTH'S TWIN FOUND SO CLOSE THAT IS BRUSHES UP AGAINST US AS WE SLEEP, AS A MATTER OF A FACT YOUR MORNING BREATH IS THIS PLANET'S ACTUAL ATMOSPHERE, THAT'S JUST HOW CLOSE SHE IS!" Considering the whole universe is the neighborhood, the planet is a hop, skip and a jump away. Maybe the Em Drive well get us there.
Comment icon #18 Posted by psyche101 8 years ago
Considering the whole universe is the neighborhood, the planet is a hop, skip and a jump away. Maybe the Em Drive well get us there. Nice f 9.4 percent the speed of light and result in a total transit time from Earth to Alpha Centauri of just 92 years. However, if the intentions of such a mission were to perform in-situ observations and experiments in the Alpha Centauri system, then deceleration would be needed. This added component would result in a 130-year transit time from Earth to Alpha Centauri – which is still a significant improvement over the multi-thousand year timetable such a mis... [More]
Comment icon #19 Posted by poohbear 8 years ago
But in reality and the way technology is moving. The warp drive from NASA can't be far off. So I reckon, hi ho off we go
Comment icon #20 Posted by Krater 8 years ago
This crap is getting old. Logic dictates that life evolved to suit conditions here on Earth, not that life can only exist in these conditions. If we ever discover alien life, it most likely won't come from a planet we would deem hospitable for Earth life, so who cares? We can't go there and use it as a second home and probably never will be able to. Searching for Earth-like planets is completely pointless.
Comment icon #21 Posted by toast 8 years ago
Logic dictates that life evolved to suit conditions here on Earth, not that life can only exist in these conditions. As we have a model of a planet that evolved life, the Earth, we look for similar planets as we do not know what other, and to us unknown, models would support the formation of life. If we ever discover alien life, it most likely won't come from aplanet we would deem hospitable for Earth life, so who cares? Your "most likely" is based on what empiric data exactly? As you placed the logic card here, you should keep on logic and not on your individual and baseless assumptions. We c... [More]
Comment icon #22 Posted by psyche101 8 years ago
This crap is getting old. Logic dictates that life evolved to suit conditions here on Earth, not that life can only exist in these conditions. Indeed, but we do know from life squeezing into every niche on earth that life can only thrive under certain conditions. If we ever discover alien life, it most likely won't come from a planet we would deem hospitable for Earth life, so who cares? We can't go there and use it as a second home and probably never will be able to. Absolute nonsense, we are not exactly zipping around extrasolar planets checking them out for life signs, if we do detect life,... [More]
Comment icon #23 Posted by TonopahRick 8 years ago
If it takes 130 years to get to Alpha Centuari by this method it is entirely possible that 100 years after liftoff we will have better methods of space travel and could actually be there waiting for the first ship to arrive. Now that would be a time to party.


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