[blueunicorn6]

Tau Ceti.

Yes.

I remember it well.

Stopped there for dinner once.

Oh, maybe that was Tucson.

I get those two mixed up.

[blueunicorn6]

Your title must be some kind of code.

I’m good at breaking codes.

Let’s see.

Hmmmmmmm.....

It’s either “Invade now and crush the earthlings” or “Visit Wall Drug in Wall, S.D.”

[Vince Ferrer]

The next generation of telescopes can get a very good look at these planets.

[stylin19a]

just 12 light years away.

Just ? a light year is 6 trillion miles

[GnuThere]

In slightly related news, I read we can see 4 planets during the eclipse Aug 21. (Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury)

My spellcheck corrects Tau Ceti to Tau Cheri. But either way, it’s a cool name.

[ExGeeEye]

Home of “the Race” in Harry Turtledove’s “Worldwar” and “Colonization” seria.

[Brooklyn Attitude]

Other than satisfying some astrophysicist’s idle curiosity what practical value does this have? It would take our fastest space probe ~20,000 years to go 1 LY. That means its ~ 250,000 years to travel to these hunks of rocks. We’re NEVER going there for colonization or otherwise. Rather than some make work project, perhaps these people should find something useful to do.

[Phlap]

A lightyear is a measure of distance, not time. Just so you know.

[Deplorable American1776]

Liberals, I will give you free land if you move from Earth...you can create your paradise...with gays, trans, pedophiles and Muslims...

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Two of the four planets are in the habitable zone around the star where temperatures could be just right for liquid water, and perhaps alien life, to be present.

I hope they are making observations on these planets to determine if they have magnetic fields. I believe such evidence is radio emissions in the 10mHz range.

Without a magnetic field, life would never get a foothold and liquid water would be near impossible.

[mewzilla]

Monty Python's Galaxy Song

[5cents]

Grown men talking silliness.