Researchers of the Keck Observatory in Hawaii have discovered a planet about three times the mass of the Earth right in the middle of the habitable zone, which is a certain distance from a star for liquid water to be present on the surface.The planet also seems to be rocky with a solid surface and enough gravity for an atmosphere.
The planet is tidally locked into orbit around red dwarf star Gliese 581, which means that the same side always faces the star. Any forms of life would most likely be on the border of the light side and the dark side.
Constructing a habitable zone has always been theoretical and quite abstract. Some scientists feel that there are too many variables other than distance from a star to consider for life to form. Yet there are still some well known astronomers that are very excited about this discovery. Steven Vogt, professor of astronomy at UC Santa Cruz, has stated "my own personal feeling is that the chances of life on this planet are 100 percent."
100 percent is a bit rash, especially considering the number of life-bearing planets we have found so far. But the findings are still preliminary and anything is possible. There is no telling what kind of life or what degree of intelligence could present itself, if at all. Still, the finding of a planet so similar to Earth at just 20 light years away shows the possibility for more such planets further into the universe.
For those true believers out there, maybe the radio signal picked up from a nearby planet a couple years ago really did mean something.
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