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Habitable Exoplanet Found?

Puppycow said:
If the density is the same, we would still weigh more, but not three times more because the radius would be larger. Sounds a bit harsh anyway. Atmosphere would probably be thicker.
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Though neither planet is of uniform density, and that screws up the estimate a bit, if they were of equal average density, then the mass of this planet would be 3x larger and the radius would be the cube root of 3 larger. On the surface of this planet the gravitational acceleration would be 3/3^(2/3) = 3^(1/3) = 1.44 times stronger than Earth's. Just in case you really were wondering.
 
Puppycow said:
If the planet is 3 earth masses, I wonder how much we would weigh on it. IIRC if it has the same radius, but is three times denser, we would weigh three times as much. If the density is the same, we would still weigh more, but not three times more because the radius would be larger. Sounds a bit harsh anyway. Atmosphere would probably be thicker.

There are probably better ones yet to be found.
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According to the article, the density may be less, so the surface gravity may only be about 30% to 50% greater. Plus, if the primary (Gliese 581) has a low metallicity (M3-V), it is unlikely that any of its planets have much metal, so even if this new planet does have a moon to stir up the planet during its liquid phase, there would likely be little metal found in its crust. Less metal --> less density --> less gravity
 
Hmmm, only 20 light years away? That means they may have been getting our radio transmissions for decades, only 20 years late.

And if there is intelligent life there, we should be able to pick up radio transmissions? Time to re-tune/re-aim SETI ? Perhaps bring in a state of the art phased array antenna? How big would it need to be? Inverse square law, 20 light years distant, not very strong signal...? Hmm, could we /they pick up the radiation blast of an atom bomb at that range ?
 
Halfcentaur said:
Har far away be it? Time to start loading up the arc.
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Yeah quick, let's do it!

Now let's check;
Packed lunch......Check
Flask of tea........Check
A coat in case it rains........Check
Seat-belts on........Check
Enough fuel to go approximately 120 trillion miles........ hmmmm I've got a jerry-can in the boot!
:p

I was left with a few questions after reading the article.

If a planet is travelling at such high speeds, how can it form an atmosphere?
Bearing in mind the temperature extremes, wouldn't any atmosphere that did form be subject to horrendous wind speeds?
Do you think that it'll have a Mcdonalds?
 
Halfcentaur said:
I intend on hooking the largest whale in the seas and fitting it with the necessary devices to enable it's swimming instinct in space.
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My God. So begins the era of the Spacing Guild Navigators.

4514ca4b46b5b37c.jpg
 
casebro said:
Hmmm, only 20 light years away? That means they may have been getting our radio transmissions for decades, only 20 years late.
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So, let's see, if they're watching now, they're seeing our 1990 programming. That would mean The Simpsons, The Cosby Show, Northern Exposure, and . . . oh, no . . . Blossom.

We'd really better hope there's nobody home at Gliese 581.
 
Light23 said:
Would living on a planet with more gravity than we're used to have any unwanted effects on our bodies?
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Really big thighs, breasts and scrotums that hang down to your knees. Nothing too serious.
 
Madalch said:
I think he meant "ark".
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If we built a ship that could accelerate to a decent percentage of the speed of light, the trip would only take a few weeks "on board" time due to time dilation. The rest of us would not hear from the intrepid crew for 40+ years.

I would sign up for a trip like that. I hate everyone on this god forsaken planet.

Wait.... what's that in the distance?... no...NO!!! I didn't make it to Gliese 581!
It's Earth!!!!!! DAMN YOUSE!.....YOUSE BLEW IT UP!!!!!!! damn you all to hell!!!!!!
 
uruk said:
Light23 said:
Would living on a planet with more gravity than we're used to have any unwanted effects on our bodies?
Click to expand...

Really big thighs, breasts and scrotums that hang down to your knees. Nothing too serious.
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. . .must . . . resist . . . urge . . . to . . . make . . . comparison . . .to . . . rural . . . Arkansas . . .
 
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So Humans , you have found our planet.
now we must invade you sooner than planned

Zarg from Zylon
(speaking through Rrose)
 
I read it as not so much that a habitable planet was found, but that a planet that COULD be habitable was found, but we don't know enough about it.

It's like... imagine needing to meet 10 criteria... and we've just found one that meets the first two and have no idea of the rest. But it's the first time that we've had anything meet even two of them.
 
Here is a page where you can locate the star yourself in the constellation libra.
Try around may to actually see the star through a telescope.
 
gnome said:
I read it as not so much that a habitable planet was found, but that a planet that COULD be habitable was found, but we don't know enough about it.

It's like... imagine needing to meet 10 criteria... and we've just found one that meets the first two and have no idea of the rest. But it's the first time that we've had anything meet even two of them.
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That's exactly my take, too.
 
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