Potentially habitable planet found

[swestrup]

Roughly a decade earlier than I expected, astronomers have announced the discovery of a potentially habitable planet in another solar system. Of course, using the same set of criteria (size, temperature zone), Mars counts as 'potentially habitable', so its a bit early to send colony ships. Still, its just over 20 light years away, so it will be one of the first places we visit, if we ever get out of this Solar system.

Then again 'Habitable' might still be generous. It probably has a 5g surface gravity, and its year is only 13 (Earth) days long.

Comments

[swestrup]

Its kind hard to get a consistent value of G when we're not yet terribly sure of the radius OR the mass, so I'm sure there are a range of possible values.

As for it being an icy world that spiraled in, yes, I've read about that being a concern. Its kinda hard to tell with our current level of technology though.