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Related: About this forum"Goldilocks Planet Will Be Found Within Next Two Years"
Certainly you remember the story of Goldilocks and the tree bears told to you as a child by a knowing adult? What does a fairy tale have to do with Space exploration? As the numbers mount, it seems to be just a matter of time before Kepler finds what astronomers are really looking for: an Earth-like planet orbiting its star in the "Goldilocks zone"that is, at just the right distance for liquid water and life.
"I believe Kepler will find a 'Goldilocks planet' within the next two years," says Shawn Domagal-Goldman, a researcher at NASA HQ who specializes in exoplanet biology. "We'll be able to point at a specific star in the night sky and say 'There it isa planet that could support life!'"
Kepler has already located a few Earth-sized planets, but they are too close for comfort to their parent stars. These recent finds have heightened the sense that a big discovery is just around the corner.
But finding such a planet is just the first step. Getting to know it is much more difficult.
more
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2012/03/fairtales-with-finess.html
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"Goldilocks Planet Will Be Found Within Next Two Years" (Original Post)
n2doc
Mar 2012
OP
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)1. Will the trees be the right size, too, like in Michigan?
izquierdista
(11,689 posts)2. And once it IS found....
Marketing departments will have to create new advertising campaigns for the new sales territories.
Ezlivin
(8,153 posts)3. Can't wait 'til they discover the Planet of Prehistoric Women
whistler162
(11,155 posts)4. Then we just need to get rid of those
pesky bears!
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)5. If it is just right for life, then it will HAVE life, and we will have NO
right to move in and take over.
Besides, there is that whole little thing about actually GETTING there.
longship
(40,416 posts)6. Kepler Mission is awesome...
2361 candidate planets
61 confirmed planets
Kepler: Home Page
bananas
(27,509 posts)7. There was an interesting interview with a planet hunter recemtly
http://www.thespaceshow.com/detail.asp?q=1709
Broadcast 1709 (Special Edition) Listen to the show!
Aired on February 10th, 2012
Guest: Dr. David Kipping
Topics: Searching for Exomoons and Exoplanets with Kepler Space Telescope (KST).
<snip>
Dr. David Kipping is an astronomer based at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), where he researches extrasolar planets and moons. I am currently fulfilling a Carl Sagan Fellowship at the CfA with the Harvard College Observatory. My research interests include the theory of transiting exoplanets, the development of novel detection techniques, signal detection theory and exomoonology. He also enjoys publicizing science and welcome any questions on my work!
Broadcast 1709 (Special Edition) Listen to the show!
Aired on February 10th, 2012
Guest: Dr. David Kipping
Topics: Searching for Exomoons and Exoplanets with Kepler Space Telescope (KST).
<snip>
Dr. David Kipping is an astronomer based at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), where he researches extrasolar planets and moons. I am currently fulfilling a Carl Sagan Fellowship at the CfA with the Harvard College Observatory. My research interests include the theory of transiting exoplanets, the development of novel detection techniques, signal detection theory and exomoonology. He also enjoys publicizing science and welcome any questions on my work!