Happy Atheist Forum

General => Science => Topic started by: Recusant on August 25, 2016, 04:57:56 AM

Title: An Interesting Discovery at Proxima Centauri
Post by: Recusant on August 25, 2016, 04:57:56 AM
Its year is a bit over 11 of our days, and it's very likely bathed in some rather intense radiation, still it's just possible that it supports life.

"Neighbouring star Proxima Centauri has Earth-sized planet" | BBC (http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37167390)

QuoteThe nearest habitable world beyond our Solar System might be right on our doorstep - astronomically speaking.

Scientists say their investigations of the closest star, Proxima Centauri, show it to have an Earth-sized planet orbiting about it.

What is more, this rocky globe is moving in a zone that would make liquid water on its surface a possibility.

Proxima is 40 trillion km away and would take a spacecraft using current technology thousands of years to reach.

Nonetheless, the discovery of a planet potentially favourable to life in our cosmic neighbourhood is likely to fire the imagination.

[Continues . . . (http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37167390)]