Scientists estimate 30 billion Earths

bbc ^ | 3 Jul 02 | Dr David Whitehouse

[RightWhale]

Thanks. JPL now has the wallpaper of the hour.

[Joe Hadenuf]

There might be other planets about the size of earth, but none of them, not one, would be like earth in any other way. Don't expect meadow-fresh air, nor mild seasons, nor lake trout.

Then again, given the enormity of the galaxy, there could be many that are extremely similar to earth. If the planet were the same distance to a very similar star, with similar rotation and atmosphere, it could be very possible. I understand there are a lot of factors, but it is very possible, in my opinon.

[jwalsh07]

So, with about 300 billion stars in our galaxy, there could be about 30 billion planetary systems in the Milky Way alone; and a great many of these systems are very likely to include Earth-like worlds , say researchers.

There could be cream cheese mountains, rivers flowing with beer and a hundred vestigial virgins for every human, no?

[RightWhale]

vestigial virgins

What? Did you mean virtual virgins?

[chilepepper]

OUR milky way. They are millions of "Milky Ways" out there...

The number of stars in OUR universe completely overwhelms your argument...

There may be OTHER universes as well...

[aruanan]

In addition, I do not agree with your statement - each development of a planet is a seperate event and therefore infinitely possible.

That's okay if you want to disagree, but this is how odds are calculated. Besides, nothing, except perhaps the existence of the universe as a whole, is a "seperate" event. Besides, separation of events and their possibility of occurring have no relationship. You may as well say that since your eating sushi and my eating sushi are separate events each is "infinitely possible". But there's no possibility of my eating sushi and it has nothing to do with its degree of separation from your eating it.

[jwalsh07]

Nope, I say what I mean and mean what I say, cause I'm Popeye the Sailor Man,

TOOT TOOT

[RightWhale]

The number of stars in OUR universe completely overwhelms your argument...

Add all the zeros you want. It's still zero.

[tricky_k_1972]

Already happening they want to set up "environmentally" protected areas of the moon if not the whole moon itself (being proposed in the U.N.). There are still others that want protected areas of Mars. Gee aren't environmentalists great.

[tricky_k_1972]

That has been the limit of what they CAN observe not what is out there. They have only the ability to find large bodies relatively close to a sun (searching for a gravitational "wobble"). The point is even with their limited ability they have found these wich is amazing in and of it self. For a long time scientist doubted the prospects of weather other solar systems might even hold planets like ours. Go to space.com and learn more about these amazing finds.

[RightWhale]

"environmentally" protected areas

Funny thing about the moon and Mars. There is no environment unless you count getting irradiated by cosmic rays [moon] or sandblasted all day every day [Mars.]

[tm22721]

If true then the bottom could fall out of the real estate market.

BUMP

[RightWhale]

the real estate market

True that housing costs are way too high, but consider moving expenses.

[tricky_k_1972]

This just goes to show that environmentalist care nothing about the environment. This came up in the U.N. after there has been much talk among several legit companies to start corporations on the moon for tourism, and tax implications. The finding of water in craters on the poles has also made the moon a lot more attractive as a potential for a large industrial base i.e. fuel.

The lower gravity means that any manufacturing has the added bonus of free lift. Set up a rail launcher and just let objects fall on an easy course to the earth's gravity well.

Pretty exciting stuff all in all.

[Brett66]

What appears to be on NASA's slate is:

1. Space Interferometry Mission - The beginning of NASA's efforts at space-based interferometry, should detect many terrestrial planets (no images)launch date-2009

2. Next Generation Space Telescope - First direct imaging of Jupiter+ size exoplanets launch date-2010

3. Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) - Crude images of Earth-sized planets, will do spectographic analysis of such planets. This one could answer the big question. launch date- 2012-2015

4. Terrestrial Planet Imager - The Uber Telescope, this will give detailed images of exoplanets, almost like flying a Voyager through the system. It will consist of 5-8 meter telescopes in space with a 6000 Km baseline (WOW!)We'll be able to see clouds and continents on Earth like planets probably greater than 50 light years away. launch date-only in planning stages.

Terrestrial Planet Imager

[Brett66]

Correction to my last post,The Terrestrial Planet Imager is in the "vision" stage. We have to develop interferometer technology more before we even start the planning stage.

[RightWhale]

Virtually all the stars out to about 100 light-years distant have been surveyed

Don't know that even the 6000 km diameter telescope constellation would help a lot if it is supposed to give 400x400 pixel resolution to 50 lightyears and if there is only one potential earthlike system within 100 lightyears. They'll have to go to a larger diameter, which is no problem since they are still in the concept stage.

[Brett66]

Another correction, the TPI will consist of four interferometers consisting of four, eight meter telescopes with one 8-meter central telescope to coordinate the 4 interferometers.

[agrandis]

Whether or not it's likely, this Universe is mind-boggling. Just thinking of the richness increases my ever-increasing awe of the Maker.

[tricky_k_1972]

bump