Planet-Finding by Numbers [ Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) PlanetQuest mission ]

PhysOrg.com ^ | October 18, 2006 | Jane Platt, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

[SunkenCiv]

The science team has shown that, in a survey of the best 120 candidate stars for hosting such planets, SIM PlanetQuest would have the sensitivity to find:

• Planets smaller than Earth around six stars
• Planets smaller than twice Earth's mass around 24 stars
• Planets smaller than about triple Earth's mass around every star in the survey group

[SunkenCiv]

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This graph shows the number of potentially habitable planets the Space Interferometry Mission PlanetQuest would have the sensitivity to find. Image credit: NASA/JPL

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[SunkenCiv]

[Brett66]

An interesting question to answer, but I don't know if they could get an answer to it, would be- at what point does gravity hinder biological activity and render a planet uninhabitable to higher life forms?

[SunkenCiv]

From a look at the MSM and nothing else, an alien observer would conclude, something the size of Earth. :')