| Posted on May 09, 2012 01:58:36 PM | John Entwistle | 5 Comments | |
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NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has detected light emanating from a "super-Earth" beyond our solar system for the first time. While the planet is not habitable, the detection is a historic step toward the eventual search for signs of life on other planets.
The planet, called 55 Cancri e, falls into a class of planets termed super Earths, which are more massive than our home world but lighter than giant planets like Neptune. The planet is about twice as big and eight times as massive as Earth. It orbits a bright star, called 55 Cancri, in a mere 18 hours.
For more information about this discovery, visit http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/08may_superearth/Link to the NES Virtual Campus home page.
Tags : NASA Mission Update, NASA Point of Interest, NASA Science Update
beautiful work, keep it up
The work being Dona by Nasa and it's staff is undeniably necessary and I hope it is never hope it continues for a many more generations.
According to the link referenced in the post, the 55 Cancri system is relatively close to Earth, at 41 light-years away. It has five planets, with 55 Cancri e the closest to the star and tidally locked, so one side always faces the star. Spitzer discovered the sun-facing side is extremely hot, indicating the planet probably does not have a substantial atmosphere to carry the sun's heat to the unlit side.
How many light years away is this planet from Earth?
So when ya'll need someone to explore space and move where ever whenever and do whatever needs to be done mark me first on the list.