Probably one of the oldest questions ever asked by humanity. What if we discover that there IS a planet out there capable of sustaining human life? Until we arrive to that planet I'm sure some protocols will have been invented by then and set in place.
But are we close? Read closely and you might be surprised at what has been found.
NASA's Kepler spacecraft is a prolific hunter of planets outside our solar system. Since it's launching in 2009 Keplar has confirmed more than 1,000 of these exoplanets and cataloged thousands of more candidates.
The collection includes planets with densities greater than iron and lower than styrofoam. Planets bigger than Jupiter and smaller than Mercury. Planets with one, two or even four suns.
The number and variety of exoplanets is inspiring to researchers but in some ways leaves the collection something to be desired. Non scientists and scientists alike share a longing to find one particular type of world, a world like Earth. That speaks to us in a way that "hot" Jupiters and multiple star systems cannot. Kepler Spacecraft Launch March 7, 2009, 3:49 AM
We long for a world whose very existance cries, "we are not alone."
Kepler has recently found the closest compeer to the Earth/Sun system. In July 2015 NASA announced the discovery of 452b, an exoplanet just over one and a half times "wider" than Earth, orbiting a G2 type star (similar to our sun). More promising is Kepler 452b's orbit is located in what is called the "goldilocks" of its star system. Where the temperature is "just right" for liquid water to exist. This is also known as the "habitable zone", because H2O is required for life (as we know it.)
Jon Jenkins headed NASA's Ames reserach team and was quoted as saying, "Think of 452b as an older bigger cousin to Earth. It's awe inspiring to consider that this planet has spent six billion years in its "habitable zone" of its star... longer than Earth. That's substantial opportunity for life to arise should all the necessary "ingredients"and "conditions" for life ... exist on this planet."
Kepler 452b is not the first exoplanet that has been found in a "habitable zone" about a dozen others in this size range have been discovered, so far. That is 10 to 15 exoplanets between one half and twice the size of Earth. Depending upon how the habitable zone is defined and allowing for uncertainties in measured planetary sizes.
Here is a breakdown of Earth in comparison to Kepler 452b.
Both Kepler 452b and Earth orbit the habitable zone of their star.
A year on Kepler 452b is 385 days. Earth year = 365 days.
Kepler 452b is only 5% farther to its parent star in comparison to Earth and its sun. (This extra distance is mitigated by extra sunlight.)
Kepler 452b's star is 20% brighter and is 10% larger than Earth's sun.
Kepler 452b's gravity is twice that of Earth.
Kepler 452b's is about 60% larger than Earth.
Kepler 452b's age aprrox: 6 Billion years old. Earths age approx: 4.5 Billion years old.
I hope this post peaked your interest for more info about Kepler 452b follow the link.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/main/index.html
On a different note if I were to discover a habitable planet, I would question @ned to see if this is were all the Steemit whales hang out? They must be there... because I'm getting no love for my posts.
Please upvote and as always Excelsior!!!!!
Here's some love, though I'm not a whale quite yet... Great post, thanks for sharing this short and sweet article with us, it is well done and I even learned a few things in there too. Namaste :)
Namaste neighbor. Every bit of love counts :-) I'm glad you enjoyed my post! I see you becoming a whale in the near future. My thanks for your vote. Following
Such kind words deserve another 5% upvote, thanks a bunch, keep on Steeming and namaste :)
Thank you again. You have reaffirmed may faith in Steemit, humanity and myself today. I am very grateful and will continue Steemng. Blessings upon you and your famiy. :-)
I believe there is life out there can't believe ours is the only planet that has life
Same here, never could understand how people might not. Infinite diversity in infinite combination seems to be the underlining harmony of the Universe.
To me it doesn't make sense, the vast amount of planets and 1 occupied. Not a chance
I don't, or at least I'm very skeptical. We don't even have a good idea of how biogenisis can occur. The first self-replicating molecule sets in stone the evolution domino, but how such an incredible molecule can come about is elusive. Fermi's paradox should be an issue for you too.
You are absolutely correct on how we have no "good" idea of how biogeneis can occur. Me and Fermi are cool with each other...great physist, lowsy poker player (still owes me $50).
With infinite diversity in infinite combination I believe in favor of life and habitable planets. "Wether that life is intelligent and we will be able to recognize it is another debate.
But with the sheer scope of matter drifting through space, I'm more inclined to believe that a planet could replicate the same conditions in different parts of the Universe.
I mean, it's not actually infinite though, neither in combination or in observable space. There are very particualar conditions required for life, and as time goes on and we approach heat death other instances of life coming about become less and less feasible.
We barely even made it ourselves. The ice ages nearly wiped everything out, and there was a time before animals where the plants nearly choked on the hyperoxygenated ready-to-burst-into-flames-any-second atmosphere, and the animals came around to respire just in time.
There are a profoundly large number of variables required for life, and I think the number is probably higher than people think. So I think it's very unlikely there have been many, if any, other living species in the universe. Moreover, if any have ever existed, I would wager they'd have killed themselves off by now. I mean, we're not doing spectacularly ourselves, I doubt we'll last over 10,000 more years. There's a very small window in which life exists, and if life is as rare as it seems, it's even more unlikely there'd be an overlap between two species in the 4 billion years or so they have to live on different ends of the universe, and even more unlikely again that one of the species in the overlap would be one on earth, and more unlikely still it would be us humans.
Looks like we're gonna have to disagree on this one then and still search for the truth. There is so much we haven't discovered or taken into account into our calculations on the matter.
I'll sign off here with a video.....thanks for bringing up good points to discuss on the subject.
So what is the answer? YES or NO
(please circle one)
We are Not alone... article as of 2014
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericmack/2014/07/16/nasa-more-confident-than-ever-that-we-are-not-alone/#a1e2dfa7dfe4
Btw a thank you to @ned.... I guess the whales have heard me... I must have found a habitable planet...I'll think I'll call it Planet Steem.... are the whales breaching?....Come on you whales...fly baby fly!
I would say: we do not know yet, as one cannot prove one or the other :)
Nice article!
I'm glad you enoyed my post...feel free to check out my other posts and upvote.
Just a minnow here trying to Steem.
Why do all the computer animated habitable planets always have more rock than water?
I believe those planets are extra pixels and not rock...... lol.