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A planet has been discovered named Gliese 581 g, or unofficially Zarmina after the wife of one of the co-discoverers. It orbits the red dwarf Gliese 581 in the Libra constellation and is 20 light years from Sol. Now onto the good stuff.
Gliese 581 g is located almost exactly in the middle of the habitable zone for humans based on the distance from its sun and its sun's temperature and size. It is between 3-4 times the mass of Earth and slightly larger in diameter, easily allowing it to hold an atmosphere without having so much gravity that humans wouldn't be fairly comfortable. One orbit is 37 Earth days, though it is approximately 10 times closer to its sun that Earth is to Sol, meaning it moves at about the same speed.
Interestingly, Gliese 581 g is tidally locked, meaning that one side always faces its sun. The sun side is estimated to be around 160°F (71°C) while the dark side is estimated to be around -25°F (-32°C) with the twilight region being a comfortable Earth like temperature.
Considering the mass, density, and temperature it is likely that Gliese 581 g could have liquid water on its surface. The way it fits into what we know about the requirements for life implies that, assuming there is water, the chances of the planet being able to sustain life are spectacularly high. Co-discoverer Steven Vogt claimed "that chances for life on this planet are 100 percent."
So, what do you all think about the planet?
Gliese 581 g is located almost exactly in the middle of the habitable zone for humans based on the distance from its sun and its sun's temperature and size. It is between 3-4 times the mass of Earth and slightly larger in diameter, easily allowing it to hold an atmosphere without having so much gravity that humans wouldn't be fairly comfortable. One orbit is 37 Earth days, though it is approximately 10 times closer to its sun that Earth is to Sol, meaning it moves at about the same speed.
Interestingly, Gliese 581 g is tidally locked, meaning that one side always faces its sun. The sun side is estimated to be around 160°F (71°C) while the dark side is estimated to be around -25°F (-32°C) with the twilight region being a comfortable Earth like temperature.
Considering the mass, density, and temperature it is likely that Gliese 581 g could have liquid water on its surface. The way it fits into what we know about the requirements for life implies that, assuming there is water, the chances of the planet being able to sustain life are spectacularly high. Co-discoverer Steven Vogt claimed "that chances for life on this planet are 100 percent."
So, what do you all think about the planet?
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