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NASA to announce discovery 400 planetary systems
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Michael Watson Send message Joined: 7 Feb 08 Posts: 1383 Credit: 2,098,506 RAC: 5 |
NASA will announce tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb 2, that the Kepler Space Telescope has discovered 400 new planetary systems around distant stars. The announcement will be carried live on NASA TV at 18:00 hours GMT ( 1 pm Eastern, 10 am Pacific times in the US). It will also be available there for later viewing. web address: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv |
Michael Watson Send message Joined: 7 Feb 08 Posts: 1383 Credit: 2,098,506 RAC: 5 |
Of all the newly discovered planet-candidates, 80 to 95 percent will likely be confirmed by future observations, based on past experience. Perhaps the most interesting are the five candidates of near Earth size, and having inferred temperatures favorable to life as we know it. Little is yet known about these planets. If they are rocky worlds, which would not be surprising, and have suitable atmospheres, it is perfectly conceivable that they could support life, even intelligent life. Also interesting were the many larger worlds within the habitable zones of their stars. Even where these are too large to be likely to favor life as we know it, there is the possibility of life on any Earth-sized moons of these planets. |
tullio Send message Joined: 9 Apr 04 Posts: 8797 Credit: 2,930,782 RAC: 1 |
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Michael Watson Send message Joined: 7 Feb 08 Posts: 1383 Credit: 2,098,506 RAC: 5 |
A very interesting article. Thank you for sharing it, Tullio. Its heartening to learn that work is going forward to detect nearby Earth-like exoplanets, after reading of the cancellation or deferral of other projects. The Kepler Space Telescope is very good in its way, but is not expected to turn up nearby exo-planets, judging by what I read. Michael |
tullio Send message Joined: 9 Apr 04 Posts: 8797 Credit: 2,930,782 RAC: 1 |
I think we are learning more about the formation of planetary systems. We only knew our own. Now Kepler is teaching us a lesson in humility, like the astronomer whose name it is bearing. Tullio |
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