Extrasolar planet found orbiting Proxima Centauri

[MaverickSawyer]

Where'd I put that Project Orion folder at...

 

[Kyle]

Paper can be found here:

http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1629/eso1629a.pdf

 

[orb]

 

[N_Molson]

We're a small step closer from interstellar travel, and that's good. In an "evacuate Earth" scenario, such a close target would be invaluable.

Artist view

 

[sorindafabico]

The habitability of Proxima Centauri b

 

[Andy44]

Back in the 1980s there was a book published by Stewart Cowley with lots of fantastical science fiction paintings and a made-up future history narrative to link them all together. I still have a copy.

In that narrative, sometime during the 21st Century Earth gets into an interstellar war with the Proximans. I really hope the book isn't quite as accurate in predictions; human colonies on Mars get hit really hard with Proximan nukes.

The yellowish-colored fighters on the cover art are supposed to be Proximan spacecraft, shown here escorting a Terran starship after the peace treaty is signed:

 

[K_Jameson]

If there is a Earth like planet around Alpha Centauri could we not call it Pandora

I still vote for Eden

 

[francisdrake]

Back in the 1980s there was a book published by Stewart Cowley ...

I happen to own a copy of the same book! In the German version the editor is 'Commander' Stewart Cowley, a member of the Terran Space force during the Centauri wars. The book was my primary source of imagination on spaceships in the pre-internet era!

 

[Andy44]

I happen to own a copy of the same book! In the German version the editor is 'Commander' Stewart Cowley, a member of the Terran Space force during the Centauri wars. The book was my primary source of imagination on spaceships in the pre-internet era!

I looked up Cmdr. Cowley last night and it seems he maintains a website: http://www.greatspacebattles.com/

 

[birdmanmike]

so it's a possibly rocky possible planet with a 12 day year in a zone that makes liquid water possible (if any there!), no knowledge about radiation - immediately it's "earthlike" . . . I dunno - leave it to the Proximen

(and we got thrown out of Eden . . .)

 

[K_Jameson]

(and we got thrown out of Eden . . .)

:lol::lol:

my proposal comes from the post in the previous page

 

[Fabri91]

I still vote for Eden

Planety McPlanetFace. :hide:

I think we should wait to know a bit more about it before naming it, in case it turns out to be an airless rock-planet.

 

[jedidia]

Bob. Obviously.

 

[fsci123]

I know we will never visit this planet in my lifetime but im glad that the current state of technology will allow us to get a decent snapshot of this planets conditions. Within a decade or two we would know the composition of its atmosphere, its color, and if were lucky, a rudimentary map of it.

 

[Linguofreak]

Artist view

Proxima, I think, is drawn too small there. For a star that cool, it will take up a significant fraction of the sky if any planet close enough to be habitable.

 

[orb]

Proxima, I think, is drawn too small there.

In comparison to Sol, it should be something like at the right side of the image:

EDIT: A better image:

 

[Gerdih]

This is amazing, I dont understand why its not in first page of all newspapers. An exo-planet in the most near system, in the habitable zone, and with a mass similar to Earth. Have you seen the simulation of temperature distribution in the link sorindafabico provided? I would even say this is more important than New Horizons reaching Pluto.

 

[Pipcard]

If it were confirmed to be Earth-like. It is not even confirmed whether it has an atmosphere or not.

 

[Urwumpe]

If it were confirmed to be Earth-like. It is not even confirmed whether it has an atmosphere or not.

It seems to have liquid water or at least a high chance of it. Which means a minimal atmosphere is realistic. Must not mean the atmosphere is the same as on Earth, which is the product of life messing with it.

 

[steph]

Given how close it is, I'm quite sure we can study it in relative detail remotely in the next few decades. Also, some radio eaves-dropping might be useful.