Astronomers have discovered a Super Earth like planet some 20.5 light years (18,000,000,000 miles) away. The 3.6m Chilean telescope Eso helped the scientists estimate the surface temperature to be between 0 and 40 centigrade, meaning any water on the planet is in liquid form. The planet is roughly 1.5 times the size of Earth but 14 times closer to its star, in the Libra constellation. In our solar system a planet in such a position would be too hot to allow any water or life to exist, however its star, Gliese 581 is smaller and dimmer than our own.
The planet is predicted to be either Rocky like our own planet or covered in oceans giving a great chance of life forms existing, liquid water is critical to life. Due to the size of the planet, any life that may exist beyond microbes would probably be flatter than here on Earth, evolving lower to the ground; you’re unlikely to find a creature like a giraffe wandering its planes.
Facts
1. Around 1.5 times the size of Earth.
2. Surface temperature estimated to be between 0 – 40 Centigrade.
3. 14 times closer to it’s star than Earth.
4. Either rocky or covered in oceans.
5. Gravity stronger than on Earth.
6. 20.5 Light years away (18 million, million miles).
I find this to be a very exciting find and although we won’t be going anywhere near it in the foreseeable future, there is hope that new propulsion technology will change that in the years too come.
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