Astronomers discover potentially habitable super-Earth

Astronomers discover potentially habitable super-Earth

An artist's impression of the newly found GJ 667Cc and the three stars
Sat Feb 4, 2012 5:42PM

This planet is the new best candidate to support liquid water and, perhaps, life as we know it.

Co-discoverer Guillem Anglada-Escude

Astronomers have discovered a potentially habitable super-Earth planet orbiting a nearby star, making it one of the best candidates to support life.


The newly found planet, called GJ 667Cc, has a mass 4.5 times that of Earth and orbits its host star every 28 days.

The research team used public data from the European Southern Observatory and analyzed it with great precision.

The star, GJ 667C, is a member of a triple star system and is different from our Sun as it lacks in metallic elements.

GJ 667C is a red dwarf and is located in the constellation Scorpio about 22 light years away from Earth.

The super-Earth planet receives 90% of the light that our planet receives but the planet is expected to absorb about the same amount of energy that Earth absorbs as more of the star's light is infrared.

The level of energy and light absorption makes it possible for the planet to have liquid water and more balanced surface temperature.

"This planet is the new best candidate to support liquid water and, perhaps, life as we know it," said co-discoverer Guillem Anglada-Escude.

"If it has an atmosphere, it's probably reddish all the time, because the star is really red," Anglada-Escude added.

The team notes that the system might also contain a gas-giant planet and an additional super-Earth.

A detailed description of the new super-Earth will be published in an upcoming issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Views: 212

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by TommyD on February 6, 2012 at 1:08am

If this orb is habitable, I am sure another species done beat us to it....maybe we will try and put them on reservations too.

Comment by TommyD on February 6, 2012 at 1:07am

I agree with your assessment of BSG (the latest). I read something along those lines about the original BSG but I was like 10 when it aired and didn't know anything about it...

Comment by Marklar on February 5, 2012 at 11:37pm

BSG (the most recent incarnation obviously) was the baddest thing to ever hit TV IMO. Interestingly I once read a website that asserted that the BSG series (the original) was loosely based upon the Mormon diaspora and they made a lot of interesting connections.

Comment by TheLasersShadow on February 5, 2012 at 1:37pm

Just need to hobble together an FTL propulsion system now and we're set... Assuming they're right and that may not be the case.

Comment by TommyD on February 5, 2012 at 6:37am

@ Marklar LOL....I take it you are familiar with BSG

Comment by Marklar on February 5, 2012 at 12:48am

It's all Jimmy Hendix's fault

Comment by TommyD on February 5, 2012 at 12:31am

what was it they kept saying on Battlestar Galactica??? This has happened before, it will happen again

Comment by Maria De Wind on February 5, 2012 at 12:30am

Lol.

Just wait till we are told how many d@#nd moons it has 

Comment by J-RoQ on February 5, 2012 at 12:25am

Just an observation but we have done such a terrible job at being the care taker of our own planet I wonder what kind of job we would do if we had two? I also wonder if we could land a second chance on a new planet would we just repeat the same mistakes, something to consider. J-RoQ

Comment by Cryptocurrency on February 5, 2012 at 12:15am

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Less Prone favorited rlionhearted_3's photo
3 hours ago
Less Prone left a comment for John Miller
"Welcome John."
3 hours ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post

The Saga of Ape Canyon Revisited

 In the years that I’d written for the Plano Star Courier I got several invitations to go on…See More
4 hours ago
John Miller is now a member of 12160 Social Network
6 hours ago
Less Prone favorited tjdavis's photo
6 hours ago
tjdavis posted a photo
14 hours ago
Burbia posted a video

The lIIumlnatl Stallions: MethyIene Bluecifer & Mind-Control Horses [ FULL DOCUMENTARY ]

🐴🦄🐸 Get the NEW "lIIumlnatl Animal Coloring Book!" 🐴🦄🐸NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON - CLICK HERE: https://amzn.to/3SYgAkC🔑 Get MORE Access to the Secret Vid...
14 hours ago
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Memorial Weekend Getaway Horror Story
"Less Prone thanks for your support Buddy! "
yesterday
Doc Vega replied to cheeki kea's discussion Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Gave Many Interviews with Mainstream Media
"cheeki kea, I really appreciate the reporting of Sky News. I think they've done a great…"
yesterday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

When

 Sad blue eyed poet rehearses his craftJust took a salvo in the compartment aftHis chances of…See More
yesterday
cheeki kea replied to cheeki kea's discussion Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Gave Many Interviews with Mainstream Media
"You're damn right there Doc V. but we may never know exactly where all the funding came from…"
yesterday
cheeki kea commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Me-Again

"Oh Look a new version of Megan, can't say the old version looked to flash either. Seems like…"
yesterday
Doc Vega replied to cheeki kea's discussion Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Gave Many Interviews with Mainstream Media
"This asshole had an incredible number of overseas connections and incoming money from unnamed…"
Wednesday
rlionhearted_3 posted photos
Wednesday
cheeki kea replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
"It's been interesting reading the comments from the Hungarian Tartaria fans on social media…"
Tuesday
Burbia's blog post was featured

James Comey appears to call for the assassination of President Trump

I'm sure these are the kind of shells Comey is implying here. …See More
Tuesday
tjdavis's blog post was featured
Tuesday
cheeki kea's 2 blog posts were featured
Tuesday
Doc Vega's 5 blog posts were featured
Tuesday
Less Prone commented on Doc Vega's blog post Memorial Weekend Getaway Horror Story
"A nice story"
Tuesday

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted