We are not alone: 'trillions' of planets could be supporting life

Times Online ^ | 02/15/09 | Mark Henderson

[KevinDavis]

Trillions of planets that are capable of harbouring life are probably orbiting Sun-like stars, making it almost certain that humanity is not alone in the Universe, a leading astronomer said yesterday.

The discovery of hundreds of planets around distant stars in our galaxy suggests that most solar systems have a world like ours that is capable of supporting life, and many of them are likely to have evolved it, according to Alan Boss, of the Carnegie Institution in Washington, DC.

[dragnet2]

You seem to speak in riddles. Looking at your moniker, I'm not overly surprised. What I said above, was exactly correct, and a near perfect analogy. Your post made me wince and laugh.

So visiting other solar systems might not be so long off.

Uh, no I never suggested or implied that. You're the author of those words.

[SmallGovRepub]

“Are the scientists writing for scientology?”

No, Scientology is a cult started by a science fiction writer. Just don't quote the Book of Mormon to me. I don't want to hear it.

[Drew68]

As Enrico Fermi famously asked many years ago, “where is everybody?”

None of these alien civilizations have yet figured out how to breech the speed of light. That's why the skies are not full of UFOs.

[wastedyears]

I imagine some enterprising (Democrat) souls will lead the mission in the name of peace.

[Richard Kimball]

I'd be surprised if we made it out much further. We went to the moon a few times. There didn't seem to be much reason to stay, so we haven't been back for over 35 years. Beyond placing satellites for communication, there's no real economic reason for space exploration. We've made a few unmanned trips to Mars. I'm not sure we could even land on most of the planets. The hype about life on Mars is mostly about gaining funding for exploration.

In Apollo 13, they captured the desire of the astronauts to walk on the moon. However, it was a personal desire on the part of the astronauts. We spend billions and come back with a few rocks. The nearest planet is around 4.2 light years away. So far, the fastest man made object, the Helios, has attained speeds of 150,000 mph. At top speed, it could cover 1.3 billion miles per year, but the closest star to us is over 20 trillion miles away. I've tried running the numbers, but they're beyond me. It looks, though, that it would take generations to get to the closest star and more generations to get back, even if we tripled our current top speed. I don't think man has that kind of generational interest.

[RandallFlagg]

More likely what will happen is this:

We launch a probe that will take a thousand years to reach its planetary target. But a hundred years later, we're able to launch probes that are 10 times faster. And a hundred years after that, probes that are 100 times faster. So by the time that first probe sends back it's "email", it will be an quaint historical artifact, nothing more.

...and by THEN, the postage rate inflation will backrupt the country who originally sent the probe, and Obama's great-great-great-great-great¹⁵ grandfather will have to pass a stimulus package.

[Cincinatus]

Actually, Susan Oliver is the original hot green chick. In the Star Trek pilot.

[Dan(9698)]

Just don't quote the Book of Mormon to me.

Moses didn't write the Book of Mormon.

[SmallGovRepub]

No, Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Moses. I don't want to get in an argument with you about this. You are free to have whatever religious beliefs you want to have. I'm just not interested in having Mormon scripture quoted to me. If you do it I'm going to tell you I think it's nonsense, just like I'm apt to tell kids on the bikes that come knocking on my door if they try to hand me pamphlets after I tell them to get lost. I don't mind people having whatever religious beliefs they want to have, I just don't want them trying to push that crap on me. I won't say a word about it if you don't bring it up first. Keep your religious beliefs to yourself and you and I will never have a problem.

[dfwgator]

Hmmm do any of them look like this?

"If the b@tch is green, there must be something wrong with the p---y." - Eddie Murphy

[NavyCanDo]

Surely one of them could be the home of beautiful Amazonian Women. Sadly I will be long dead before we run into it.

[HenpeckedCon]

Over 50,000 years give or take.

[Richard Kimball]

Yeah, if we hit the speed of light, we can go there and back in ten years if we just make an orbit and come straight home. This star gives no indication that it supports life, though.

When we hit warp speed and find dilithium crystals things may change. For now, the Star Trek premise that there are hot green chicks and dozens of advanced races that are just like us except for having odd foreheads is simply the modern version of either fairy stories or mythology. Take your pick.

[Centurion2000]

bump for later

[HenpeckedCon]

Voyager 1 was launched in 1977. It's speed is approximately 38,000 miles an hour. It has left the solar system and is currently about 14.6 light HOURS from Earth. That's about .0017 light years. Alpha Centuri’s a LONG way away.

[Richard Kimball]

Yeah, and this is where it gets painful for me. I grew up with NASA and the thrill of seeing a moon walk. I remember the excitement of the early days of space exploration. I think, collectively, it's dawning on us that colonies on the moon don't make sense anymore than colonies on the bottom of the ocean or building a home on top of Mount Everest makes sense. You've got to have an umbilical cord back to earth, because you have to take everything you eat, breathe and drink with you. There's no mining or anything there that is remotely worth the expense of getting it and bringing it back.

In the end, it takes the efforts of millions of people (they're called taxpayers) to put three or four people out there. Going to Mars would require a phenomenal budget, and I suspect we'd find rocks. Considering even the closest star would require multigenerational commitments, and generations would be born and die on that ship and on earth during one trip. I can't imagine the real Space Family Robinson. We've got a reasonable idea of what's in our solar system, and the next step is a doozy, with no real reason, other than we'd like to go.

I don't discount scientific research from space exploration, but no one's made a compelling case as to how this would affect us.

[Deb]

Susan Oliver was the first Green Animal Woman from the (second) Star Trek pilot. I think Yvonne Craig was a Romulin and they were really blue.

[Richard Kimball]

Yeah, but Yvonne was hotter. She also blew up, IIRC.

[bert]

......I suspect we’d find rocks....

The fact is, we don’t know what is to be found. The term rocks is being used as anything that is solid. What is important is more specific, the compounds that make up the solid.

There has been a lot written on the subject but I recommend “The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress” by Robert Heinlein. He explores concepts of moving stuff about.

To many the concept of living with uncertainty is intolerable. For others the uncertainty of what lies ahead is what makes life worthwhile. Uncertainty is the reason for exploration at Yellowstone, in a cave, under water or in space.

[Deb]

True.

(Yeah! I got to use the worthless trivia-heavy portion of my brain!!!!)