Another earth.
By Pose123
@Pose123 (21635)
Canada
October 22, 2007 11:45am CST
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown planet orbiting a distant star, that they believe is very much like the earth. It is thought that there is water, the main ingredient for life, on the planet. Would anyone like to comment on this? Blessings.
7 people like this
20 responses
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
22 Oct 07
Could you give us the web site where you found this information? It would be very interesting if there were another world, in case, we did get interplanetary travel or inter galaxy travel, God willing. I do not know whether there would be life similar to Earth or whether the inhabitants were made there, or whether they had been brought to there from Earth itself by who knows what. It would be exciting if this was found to be true.
2 people like this
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
27 Oct 07
Pose was talking about Gliese 581c, but its understandable that you'd mention HD 209458b since it too has indications of water in some form.
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
24 Oct 07
Oh you are talking about HD 209458b right Pose?!
I remember that from a long while back. 2 to 3 years ago for discovery and I think several months ago for water vapor confirmation.
Yes, some refer to this planet as Osiris because 209458b isn't fun to remember.
This planet is located at the sun of the same name located in the Pegasus constellation. It has an evaporating hydrogen and oxygen atmosphere but basically, as stated in the discussion, water vapor. In fact, you can see some of the evaporation in images signified by a blue trail. Estimated surface temp is over 1700 F. And the atmospheric temperatures are at ten thousand kelvin or 17000 F! Thanks to such temperatures the gases are able to reach escape velocity and the planet is losing atmosphere. This is due to the VERY close orbit of the planet at less than 5% of one AU(distance from Earth to the Sun).
The age of the planet is unknown for obvious reasons, but a good estimate is the sun HD 209458. Its similar to Sol, a yellow dwarf star. So both are reasonably young when comparing planetary and solar life cycles. They should be around for at least another couple of billion years.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
24 Oct 07
Hi progamer, In the article I read it was referred to as Glies 581c, and orbits a red star called Gliese 581, in the constellation Libra. The story said that conditions were much like earth. Thanks progamer, let me know if it's the same planet as you mentioned. Blessings.
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
24 Oct 07
My mistake Pose. I forgot about that one. I thought you were talking about the first confirmation of another water vapor planet.
Give me a minute to unwind. And I'll post on the one you've mentioned Pose.
Either way, it looks like you pulled in a very good response here my friend :)
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
24 Oct 07
Its not the same planet at all and its my mistake. I heard of this one too at about the same time as HD. Mine is a different one. Gliese 581c is supposedly similar to earth, but its hypothesized there is water vapor there due to the estimated surface temperature to support liquid water.
However much of what is known is due to observation, comparison and hypothesis. For one, the equilibrium temperature of Gliese 581c is estimated at 30F (or a little below 0C). Like HD 209458, Gliese maintains a close orbit to its star Gliese 581. Additionally, that star is actually a main sequence and is a red dwarf star. Meaning a few other things. That the planet is at least 4 billion years old, and the warming is due to proximity to the star and a possible greenhouse effect. Unfortunately the atmospheric composition hasn't been determined. Still, some scientists think the atmosphere could contain suitable liquid water temperatures and conditions while simulating an atmosphere like Earth or Venus. Due to the unknowns, its possible the planet might be habitable/explorable by people or its possible the planet could simulate conditions found on Venus (namely the runaway greenhouse effect).
1 person likes this
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
24 Oct 07
That is so cool. I love it when good things like this happen.
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
24 Oct 07
They can't pinpoint it exactly Rogue but I put down a little information in my response. Its safe to say the planet and the star have been there awhile but not that long since its similar to our Sun. The star HD 209458 is most likely a population I star just like our Sun as well putting the age within reasonable range of Sol.
The planet itself again, hard to determine. If I use Earth as a comparison Osiris(HD 209458b) seems closer to the late Hadean eon or at least the Archean eon due to the formation of hydrogen/oxygen on the surface and atmosphere. Though our own data on that time is only theory based on observation and hypothesis.
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
24 Oct 07
Rogue that was just one planet too. Pose clarified the planet and I posted on that one as well. Its pretty awesome since this other planet Gliese has some similar conditions to HD209458b like close orbit and containment of hydrogen and oxygen in some form (possibly liquid).
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
22 Oct 07
VERY intriguing. Just like the others, I'd love to read the story. Is it still a speculation or a known fact?
My hubby's always so interested in outer space, so I know he'll be thrilled to hear about this news he he he he he...
@achilles2010 (3051)
• India
28 Mar 10
A full account of it can be seen at the website http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-450467/Found-20-light-years-away-New-Earth.html.
@ana3173 (420)
• Philippines
31 Mar 08
Scientist agree that until now they have not yet found in the Solar System with all their equipments or in our galaxy, or distant galaxies, a place that sustain human life. The recent planet discovered has a temperature of 300 degrees centigrade below zero, with its size, 5.5 x larger than that of the earth, and with its year much shorter than an earth year, implying that it moves on a greater speed than the earth, and revolving on a star which is very much fainter than our sun. It is impossible for us to live in such a place. Period!
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070424_hab-exoplanet_htm.
@headhunter525 (3548)
• India
9 Feb 08
If such a planet is found it will be very interesting. I would love to travel to such a place, but I doubt if it will be able to support life like us.
1 person likes this
@ufo_thexfiles (723)
• Malaysia
24 Oct 07
That was awesome. A great new discovery! They have to do more details research and brings more good news.
If we travel to the new earth and land our spaceship, would the new earth's specis treat us as an alien?
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
23 Oct 07
Wow. This is my first time hearing it. It is a known fact that our Sun is not the only star in the Universe. There are many other stars in the Universe. No one knows for sure (not even the scientists) how big the Universe is. I am not surprised to know that orbiting the other Stars in the Universe are other planets similar to Earth. I also hope that we will soon be able to learn more about planets orbiting round the other stars. Let's cross our fingers. =D
1 person likes this
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
23 Oct 07
I like to think that we are not the only one and that some form of life is present somewhere out there.
1 person likes this
@buliangxianren (425)
• China
23 Oct 07
many times it is said like this. but it is real? there is many years before we know the fact. i know there may be planet like earth . but i don't think it is similar as the earth suitable for liveing.
1 person likes this
@latinvari (192)
• Turkey
23 Oct 07
ohhh if is it true our grandchilds r survive.i think earth will die maybe 50 years later.this is good news.just imagine.like battlestar gallactica right :)
1 person likes this
@cobradene (1171)
• India
26 Oct 07
Well, I wouldn't buy a scientist's argument that water is the main ingredient for life. And, secondly, it would be very stupid to say that only another planet which is similar to earth can have life on it. Life can exist in different forms which is not known to us. Just because life on earth depends on sunlight, water and air, doesn't mean all other planets should have the same temperature and ingredients for life to exist on it. But we can say, for humans to live on any other planet, that planet needs to have similar conditions like earth otherwise humans won't be able to adapt those conditions.
So, life does exist and there's no doubt about it because, there are so many solar systems and universes and life could surely exist in some other form. There are yogis in the Himalayas who don't live on food or water. But they practice certain techniques of yoga which helps them live only on prana.
So it's all about adaptation. Even certain scientists have proved bacteria to be existing on the sun. Bacteria is life too right? :) So in this vast omnipresence of God, and if God is omnipresent, it means life exists everywhere. :)
@cobradene (1171)
• India
27 Oct 07
Thanks for adding more information. I learned something from you. :)
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
27 Oct 07
Indeed Cobra. You do bring up a great point. In the Hadean eon of Earth, lifeforms were what you said, basic protein strands and very simple organisms. This was also a period where there was no free oxygen in the atmosphere, it was just composed of nitrogen, ammonia, methane and carbon dioxide. Also, humanity only has a real grasp of current, observable lifeforms and theories based on research/evidence for earlier forms of life. It is conceivable other unknown lifeforms or other planets could use something different for life conditions.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
22 Oct 07
It would be very nice to have another planet like our dear earth. I hope that there is life there since the scientists believe that there is water there. I am looking forward to the scientists making further discoveries about it.
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