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May 17, 2006

Potentially Life-friendly Planet Discovered

neptuneplanets.jpgAstronomers will announce in the May 18th issue of Nature that, using the HARPS spectrograph on the 3.6-meter La Silla telescope in Chile, they have discovered the first known planetary system that contains three Neptune-mass planets, the outermost of which is in the star's life-friendly "habitable zone" (the relatively small zone around the star where liquid water could exist).

This multi-planet system, orbiting the star known as HD69830, 41 light-years away from Earth, is unique in that it contains no Jupiter-sized gas giant planet.

Judging from their orbits, the two inner planets are most likely rocky worlds like Mercury. The outermost of the three planets is suspected to have a solid rock/ice core surrounded by a thick gas atmosphere.

The three planets have masses of 10, 12, and 18 times that of the Earth, respectively, and rapidly orbit their star in 9, 31, and 197 Earth days.

Source: Space.com
Artist's Conception: European Southern Observatory

Rick Posted by Rick on May 17, 2006 at 01:45 PM

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Comments

Don't you think its a bit questionable to assume that life must exist under similar conditions to Earths? Given how little we know about how life actually works I think its plausible to assume that life could exist in any temperate zone.

Perhaps Earth-like life would be an important caveat.

Posted by: Chris at May 17, 2006 2:26 PM

I would imagine that the scientists involved feel that they are already skirting the edge of speculation, Chris. I think they would agree with you, but wouldn't risk being quoted making a comment that sounds too "out there".

Nice find, R*ck. I hadn't seen this story - I guess I know how to start classes today.

Posted by: Wulf at May 18, 2006 6:39 AM

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