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chloe
09-14-2011, 09:13 PM
Super-Earth: The newfound haul of alien planets includes 16 super-Earths, which are potentially rocky worlds that are more massive than our planet. One in particular has captured astronomers' attention because it orbits at the edge of its star's habitable zone, suggesting conditions could be ripe to support life.

More than 50 new alien planets — including one so-called super-Earth that could potentially support life — have been discovered by an exoplanet-hunting telescope from the European Southern observatory.

The potentially habitable super-Earth, officially called HD 85512 b, is estimated to be only 3.6 times more massive than Earth, and its parent star is located about 35 light-years away, making it relatively nearby. HD 85512 b was found to orbit at the edge of its star's habitable zone (http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/gliese-581-star-habitable-zone-explained-1701/), which is a narrow region in which the distance is just right that liquid water could exist given the right conditions




http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/0913/Super-Earth-Newly-discovered-planet-could-potentially-support-life

Can't wait to move....:rolleyes:

Gaffer
09-14-2011, 09:23 PM
A planet 3.6 times bigger than the earth raises the question "Doe this planet make me look fat?" :rolleyes: