Red Commissar
24th April 2014, 07:46
They've found exoplanets before with similar mass to Earth's, but this is the second that they found within the habitable zone (Goldilocks zone) that can provide the conditions for earth-like atmosphere, such that liquid water can exist. It is the first with a very similar size (about 1.1x Earth) to boot. You can look at a comparison of Earth to this exoplanet at this link
http://www.gemini.edu/images/pio/News/2014/pr2014_03/AAAS/quintana3HR.jpg
For the first time, scientists have discovered an Earth-size alien planet in the habitable zone of its host star, an "Earth cousin" that just might have liquid water and the right conditions for life.
The newfound planet, called Kepler-186f, was first spotted by NASA's Kepler space telescope and circles a dim red dwarf star about 490 light-years from Earth. While the host star is dimmer than Earth's sun and the planet is slightly bigger than Earth, the positioning of the alien world coupled with its size suggests that Kepler-186f could have water on its surface, scientists say. You can learn more about the amazing alien planet find in a video (http://www.space.com/25531-new-earth-size-planet-could-have-water-video.html) produced by Space.com.
"One of the things we've been looking for is maybe an Earth twin, which is an Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of a sunlike star," Tom Barclay, Kepler scientist and co-author of the new exoplanet research, told Space.com. "This [Kepler-186f (http://www.space.com/25536-earthsize-alien-planet-kepler-186f-gallery.html)] is an Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of a cooler star. So, while it's not an Earth twin, it is perhaps an Earth cousin. It has similar characteristics, but a different parent." [10 Exoplanets That Could Host Alien Life (http://www.space.com/18790-habitable-exoplanets-catalog-photos.html)]
...
"This is an historic discovery of the first truly Earth-size planet found in the habitable zone around its star," Geoff Marcy, an astronomer at the University of California, Berkeley, who is unaffiliated with the research, told Space.com via email. "This is the best case for a habitable planet yet found. The results are absolutely rock-solid. The planet itself may not be, but I'd bet my house on it. In any case, it's a gem."
...
Kepler-186f actually lies at the edge of the Kepler-186 star's habitable zone, meaning that liquid water on the planet's surface could freeze, according to study co-author Stephen Kane of San Francisco State University.
Because of its position in the outer part of the habitable zone, the planet's larger size could actually help keep its water liquid, Kane said in a statement. Since it is slightly bigger than Earth, Kepler-186f could have a thicker atmosphere, which would insulate the planet and potentially keep its water in liquid form, Kane added.
"It [Kepler-186f] goes around its star over 130 days, but because its star is a lower mass than our sun, the planet orbits slightly inner of where Mercury orbits in our own solar system," Barclay said. "It's on the cooler edge of the habitable zone. It's still well within it, but it receives less energy than Earth receives. So, if you're on this planet [Kepler-186f], the star would appear dimmer."
Full article at:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/first-earth-size-planet-that-could-support-life-found/
If you have institutional access, the journal article announcing the results is here
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/344/6181/277
The other planet that was found within the goldilocks zone was on the end closer to the star and was potentially Venus-like (http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/04/17/kepler_186f_earth_sized_planet_in_the_habitable_zo ne.html). More data will be needed for this planet- while the size and location are known, there's nothing about its atmosphere and other characteristics that are recorded. It could be for all we know Venus-like (Venus it should be noted lies within our sun's habitable zone) with a stifling atmosphere or like Mars with its more lush period behind it.
http://www.gemini.edu/images/pio/News/2014/pr2014_03/AAAS/quintana3HR.jpg
For the first time, scientists have discovered an Earth-size alien planet in the habitable zone of its host star, an "Earth cousin" that just might have liquid water and the right conditions for life.
The newfound planet, called Kepler-186f, was first spotted by NASA's Kepler space telescope and circles a dim red dwarf star about 490 light-years from Earth. While the host star is dimmer than Earth's sun and the planet is slightly bigger than Earth, the positioning of the alien world coupled with its size suggests that Kepler-186f could have water on its surface, scientists say. You can learn more about the amazing alien planet find in a video (http://www.space.com/25531-new-earth-size-planet-could-have-water-video.html) produced by Space.com.
"One of the things we've been looking for is maybe an Earth twin, which is an Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of a sunlike star," Tom Barclay, Kepler scientist and co-author of the new exoplanet research, told Space.com. "This [Kepler-186f (http://www.space.com/25536-earthsize-alien-planet-kepler-186f-gallery.html)] is an Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of a cooler star. So, while it's not an Earth twin, it is perhaps an Earth cousin. It has similar characteristics, but a different parent." [10 Exoplanets That Could Host Alien Life (http://www.space.com/18790-habitable-exoplanets-catalog-photos.html)]
...
"This is an historic discovery of the first truly Earth-size planet found in the habitable zone around its star," Geoff Marcy, an astronomer at the University of California, Berkeley, who is unaffiliated with the research, told Space.com via email. "This is the best case for a habitable planet yet found. The results are absolutely rock-solid. The planet itself may not be, but I'd bet my house on it. In any case, it's a gem."
...
Kepler-186f actually lies at the edge of the Kepler-186 star's habitable zone, meaning that liquid water on the planet's surface could freeze, according to study co-author Stephen Kane of San Francisco State University.
Because of its position in the outer part of the habitable zone, the planet's larger size could actually help keep its water liquid, Kane said in a statement. Since it is slightly bigger than Earth, Kepler-186f could have a thicker atmosphere, which would insulate the planet and potentially keep its water in liquid form, Kane added.
"It [Kepler-186f] goes around its star over 130 days, but because its star is a lower mass than our sun, the planet orbits slightly inner of where Mercury orbits in our own solar system," Barclay said. "It's on the cooler edge of the habitable zone. It's still well within it, but it receives less energy than Earth receives. So, if you're on this planet [Kepler-186f], the star would appear dimmer."
Full article at:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/first-earth-size-planet-that-could-support-life-found/
If you have institutional access, the journal article announcing the results is here
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/344/6181/277
The other planet that was found within the goldilocks zone was on the end closer to the star and was potentially Venus-like (http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/04/17/kepler_186f_earth_sized_planet_in_the_habitable_zo ne.html). More data will be needed for this planet- while the size and location are known, there's nothing about its atmosphere and other characteristics that are recorded. It could be for all we know Venus-like (Venus it should be noted lies within our sun's habitable zone) with a stifling atmosphere or like Mars with its more lush period behind it.