Asmo's comment: Fascinating.
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed a new exoplanet discovery: the first known system of seven Earth-size planets around a single star. Three of these planets are firmly located in the habitable zone, the area around the parent star where a rocky planet is most likely to have liquid water.
The discovery sets a new record for greatest number of habitable-zone planets found around a single star outside our solar system. All of these seven planets could have liquid water–key to life as we know it–under the right atmospheric conditions, but the chances are highest with the three in the habitable zone.
Source (https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/news/1419/nasa-telescope-reveals-largest-batch-of-earth-size-habitable-zone-planets-around-single-star/)
One of the team, on the BBC yesterdsy, spoke of attempts to find out any possible atmophere and its make-up. Seemed confident they would do so.
They sure do a lot with less than a percent of tax payer dollars.
I think that's where Firefly happens.
Quote from: Gloucester on February 23, 2017, 08:19:23 AM
One of the team, on the BBC yesterdsy, spoke of attempts to find out any possible atmophere and its make-up. Seemed confident they would do so.
I think I listened to that same interview, in fact toward the end the reporter asked if they had settled on any names for the planets, which currently only have alpha designators, and he said they had a number of good Belgian Beers they would like to name them after, but that was out for approval. ;D
I agree this is fascinating, and it seems only a matter of time, whether with one of these planets or somewhere else where maybe we actually detect life.
Would like to hope or at least dream that conclusive proof of life on another planet is found before I die...that would be cool. So I figure NASA and ESA have about 30 years yet to find life on another planet.
If there is evolved, intelligent life there, I hope it's more equitable than ours.
Quote from: Essie Mae on February 23, 2017, 03:36:35 PM
If there is evolved, intelligent life there, I hope it's more equitable than ours.
...and who have figured out how to brew a non-alcoholic beer that doesn't taste like shite!
Quote from: Davin on February 23, 2017, 02:01:41 PM
I think that's where Firefly happens.
That was my first thought too!