Welcome to the family, Planet X.

[kevyn]

Well, it's FINALLY happened.

Scientists today announce Earth-like planet discovered 20.5 light years away.

Planet X orbits Gliese 581, a red star relatively close to us. And the planet may be the first truly Earth-like planet to have been found outside our Solar System.

And get this: It may have a relatively similar climate, and even be covered by water.

Could there be life? Or potential for colonisation?

One thing's for sure: were I to live long enough for homo sapiens to travel there, I could not go. It's 1.5 times the Earth's diameter, and has a mass 5 times greater. The gravity would be double... and I would weigh almost 800 pounds! A human body couldn't handle that.

But for life that evolved there, it would be a completely different story.

I sure hope this holds up under scientific scrutiny. Another Earthlike planet. Incredible.

Comments

[canismajor3.livejournal.com]

I just read about that! OMG! *dies of excitement*

[that-dang-otter.livejournal.com]

E = 1/2 MV^2. Accelerating 1 kilogram to something close to c takes 9e18 joules. Annual world energy production is about 1e18 joules. Cut the speed to 1/2 c and you're down to only all the world's energy production for two years. Not even Al Gore can buy that many carbon credits!

(* These numbers subject to influence by alcohol, reader is responsible for checking all calculations.)