French claim first habitable planet found

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In summary: The confirmation of Gliese 581d as the first potentially habitable exoplanet is a huge step in our understanding of the universe.In summary, scientists have confirmed that planet Gliese 581d, located 20 light years away from Earth, has the potential to sustain Earth-like life. It orbits a red dwarf star and is within the "goldilocks zone" where liquid water can exist. Despite some uncertainties, this discovery is a significant step in our understanding of the universe and the potential for life beyond Earth.
  • #1
aychamo
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Hey all,

I saw this this (..) morning. :)

http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/4321/first-habitable-exoplanet-confirmed

PARIS: A rocky world orbiting a nearby star was confirmed as the first planet outside our Solar System to meet key requirements for sustaining life.

Modelling of planet Gliese 581d shows it has the potential to be warm and wet enough to nurture Earth-like life, scientists have said. It orbits a red dwarf star called Gliese 581, located around 20 light years from Earth, which makes it one of our closest neighbours.

Gliese 581d orbits on the outer fringes of the star's 'Goldilocks zone', where it is not so hot that water boils away, nor so cold that water is perpetually frozen. Instead, the temperature is just right for water to exist in liquid form.

20 light years away, can have water and an atmosphere. What do you guys think? Is this a legit claim?

(I hope this isn't old news that's been posting days or weeks ago.)
 
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  • #2
I don't get it.Your thread title speaks of them "claiming to have found a planet same as earth" but having read the article ,all they have done is just simulated what it may look like,its atmosphere,etc.
Hypothetical assumptions,nothing close to being considered as credible.

Regards,
ibysaiyan
 
  • #3
As more data's come in, IIRC, it has been moved from just outside the 'goldilocks' zone to just inside. Given a whiff of greenhouse gasses, it could have ample surface water, a hydro cycle etc etc...

Hence, it has 'potential'-- Nothing more, nothing less, pending further data...

Big snag, IIRC, is that its host star is a red dwarf, and such may flare dramatically. Unless the planet has an excellent magnetic field, it could be zapped...
 
  • #4
In case you're interested in going back to earlier discussion here is a 2007 post about habitability of Gliese 581d.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=171902

I linked to a paper which concluded that with greenhouse effect factored in, liquid water might exist, and at least some primitive forms of life.

Generally speaking, the current reports seem to confirm the earlier 2007 finding.
 
  • #5
We have long suspected Earth is not unique in this galaxy, much less the universe. Life is probably even less unique, it likely exists elsewhere in our solar system. Multicellular life forms, however, are probably rare.
 

1. What makes a planet habitable?

A planet is considered habitable if it has the right conditions to support life as we know it. This includes having liquid water, a stable atmosphere, and a suitable distance from its star to maintain a moderate temperature.

2. How did the French claim to have found the first habitable planet?

The French team of scientists used the radial velocity method to detect a planet orbiting around the star GJ 357. This planet, named GJ 357 d, falls within the habitable zone of its star, making it a potential candidate for supporting life.

3. How far away is the newly discovered planet?

GJ 357 d is located approximately 31 light years away from Earth. This is relatively close in astronomical terms, but still too far for us to reach with current technology.

4. Is the newly discovered planet similar to Earth?

GJ 357 d is considered a super-Earth, meaning it is larger than our planet but smaller than gas giants like Jupiter. It also orbits much closer to its star, which could affect its overall composition and habitability compared to Earth.

5. Will we be able to confirm if the newly discovered planet is habitable?

At this time, we do not have the technology to directly observe GJ 357 d and determine its habitability. However, future advancements in space telescopes and techniques may allow us to gather more information and potentially confirm if it is capable of supporting life.

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