Posted on 03/03/2014 5:30:33 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Is Earth the only known world that can support life? In an effort to find life-habitable worlds outside our Solar System, stars similar to our Sun are being monitored for slight light decreases that indicate eclipsing planets. Many previously-unknown planets are being found, including over 700 worlds recently uncovered by NASA's Kepler satellite. Depicted above in artist's illustrations are twelve extrasolar planets that orbit in the habitable zones of their parent stars. These exoplanets have the right temperature for water to be a liquid on their surfaces, and so water-based life on Earth might be able to survive on them. Although technology cannot yet detect resident life, finding habitable exoplanets is a step that helps humanity to better understand its place in the cosmos.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit & Licence: Planetary Habitability Laboratory (UPR Arecibo)]
 |
||
| · join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · subscribe · | ||
| Google news searches: exoplanet · exosolar · extrasolar · | ||
Venus & Mars also orbit in or near the Habitable (”Goldilocks”) Zone of their parent star.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnWyPIzTOTw
Privileged Planet (Chapter 1 of 12)
Actually mars orbits in the outer edge of the habitable zone and Earth orbits at the inner edge.
On the chart you instantly notice that Earth is the smallest of all those planets.
I’ll guess that gravity might limit the optimal size of living things on many of those planets.
I wonder if self-propelled flight is possible on some of those really large planets?
I always enjoy your posts of NASA photos. Maybe UFO’s and aliens from space are real.
Yes, the title is misleading. These planets may be in the “habitable zone”, but no exoplanet has yet been discovered that would actually be habitable as far as humans are concerned.
Its also possible that some of those planets may be closer to earth mass but have large moons that we can’t currently spot.
RE: “Earth orbits at the inner edge of the habitable zone”
Quite a few scientists seem to believe that Venus’ atmosphere might hold microscopic life or very buoyant life forms.
Your thoughts?
A show about possible alien earths on the Science channel at 10 tonight.
Thanks cc.
The upper atmosphere of Venus would be considerably cooler than the surface but its very dry. Hard to say what is possible.
The gravity of these planets will have been what it is — IOW, whatever chances to live there has always lived in those conditions.
:’) Thanks Vinylly.
RE: The giant blue planet
So, are you thinking a large planet covered by water?
I guess that would solve the weight problem completely.
If you know, would high gravity change the physical qualities of liquid water in any way?
Would its solvency for gases and solids change?
Kepler’s pile of possibles has yielded hundreds of verifieds, with another potential 2000 or so to go. And nice pic of a habitable moon!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
