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Astronomers
have found a solar system where three planets slightly larger than
Earth are in the habitable zone around the star. This means the temperatures on
the worlds could be such that water exists in a liquid state.
This is the first time as many as three worlds have been found in the
so-called Goldilocks zone around a single start, where it may not be too hot or
too cold for life to exist.
The star, Gliese
667C, is smaller than the Sun with only about 30 percent of its
mass, so the planets are closer in.
In a publicly available research paper on the
find (see .pdf) astronomers estimate the masses of the three
planets in the habitable zone to be:
A schematic of the seven-planet system around Gliese 667C is shown below.
(European Southern Observatory)
Astronomers estimate that planet “c” would receive about the same amount of
solar energy from its star as Earth does from the Sun, with planets “f”
receiving half, and “e” receiving about one-third.
Of course the habitability of these planets depends upon whether they are
gaseous, like Saturn, or rocky, like Earth. In addition, they must have
favorable atmospheres. Specifically, the outer planet (e) must have more
greenhouse gases than those on Earth to sustain life as we know it. Of the
potential habitability of these worlds, the European astronomers say:
If not gaseous, these planets contain substantial water content, which is a
primary requirement for life. In conclusion, these planets could be
terrestrial-like with significant water content and hence are potentially
habitable.
In addition to each of these planets, there are likely moons around them as
well that might be suitable for life.
What’s really exciting is that, as astronomers examine the systems around
distant stars more closely, they’re like to find many more tightly packed
planetary systems such as this one. Whenever our species masters interstellar
travel, boundless wonders are now certain to exist.
It’s enough to make one dream of the stars.
have found a solar system where three planets slightly larger than
Earth are in the habitable zone around the star. This means the temperatures on
the worlds could be such that water exists in a liquid state.
This is the first time as many as three worlds have been found in the
so-called Goldilocks zone around a single start, where it may not be too hot or
too cold for life to exist.
The star, Gliese
667C, is smaller than the Sun with only about 30 percent of its
mass, so the planets are closer in.
In a publicly available research paper on the
find (see .pdf) astronomers estimate the masses of the three
planets in the habitable zone to be:
- c: 3.86 Earth masses
- f: 1.94 Earth masses
- e: 2.68 Earth masses
A schematic of the seven-planet system around Gliese 667C is shown below.
(European Southern Observatory)
Astronomers estimate that planet “c” would receive about the same amount of
solar energy from its star as Earth does from the Sun, with planets “f”
receiving half, and “e” receiving about one-third.
Of course the habitability of these planets depends upon whether they are
gaseous, like Saturn, or rocky, like Earth. In addition, they must have
favorable atmospheres. Specifically, the outer planet (e) must have more
greenhouse gases than those on Earth to sustain life as we know it. Of the
potential habitability of these worlds, the European astronomers say:
If not gaseous, these planets contain substantial water content, which is a
primary requirement for life. In conclusion, these planets could be
terrestrial-like with significant water content and hence are potentially
habitable.
well that might be suitable for life.
What’s really exciting is that, as astronomers examine the systems around
distant stars more closely, they’re like to find many more tightly packed
planetary systems such as this one. Whenever our species masters interstellar
travel, boundless wonders are now certain to exist.
It’s enough to make one dream of the stars.