You may have seen it in the news by now (such as here, here or here), but apparently scientists have discovered a potentially habitable planet outside of our solar system. No, it’s not going to become a vacation spot anytime soon, mainly because it sits 20.5 light years from us.
Here are the stats:
Planet X- unnamed as of yet, so let’s go with the cool moniker
Circling star- Gliese 581, a red dwarf
Distance to star- 14 times closer than we are to our own sun, which makes up for the fact that its sun is dimmer
Temperature range- 32 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit
We know from NASA’s research on Mars that water (in liquid form, especially) is one of the key elements that is sought out in the search for extraterrestrial life, since it would potentially support life similar to what we see here on Earth. Therefore, a planet has to be only so close or so far from a star in order to maintain that fragile balance between evaporation and freezing of the water supply. Planet X (any seconds on this being the official name?) seems to lie right in that moderate range of possibility. Some have labeled it a “Goldilocks” planet for being just right.
So what say you all? Think we’re going to find something out there sooner or later? Or are we alone in this universe? Should we assume that because a planet is potentially habitable, that it is in fact inhabited? And if we do start discovering life, what’s that going to do to the science fiction market? One thing I’ve always wondered is, will there ever be a point in the future where writing about technology and the future becomes so incredibly complex and improbable that it falls out of favor? Or will the science fiction genre advance in ways we can’t imagine yet, perhaps become more a “social science fiction” genre? Is technology going to outpace our understanding someday, making it difficult, if not impossible to fit into a prose/story form? We often say that truth is stranger than fiction. So what happens when reality outstrips our imagination? Or do you have confidence in the human ability to adapt to increasingly complex situations and still find a deeper, artistic level to it?
Oh, and the lease on the apartment has been signed. Just thought I’d throw that out there with all this other space-shattering news.
I see that smile.
Congrats on the lease Josh.
I think it’ll be really, really interesting to see what the other tests we can do from Earth will yield – if they will or won’t hint at other things going on on the planet’s surface. This will certainly be worth keeping an eye on, but personally I’m too much of a cynic to believe there’s many higher life forms on other planets. And if there are, then they’re better off staying the hell away from this nut-house of a race.
Life elsewhere in the universe has always posed an interesting question, both scientifically, and even theologically. Part of me usually sets the considerations on the mental back burner until we get proof that it really exists. Otherwise it’s kinda like debating what it feels like to be sucked through a black hole. Not too practical a use of time, and could probably be used better writing.