Alpha Centauri 2

Community => Recreation Commons => Our researchers have made a breakthrough! => Topic started by: Vidsek on August 25, 2016, 05:53:46 am

Title: Planet discovered orbiting the closest star to us: Proxima Centauri !!!
Post by: Vidsek on August 25, 2016, 05:53:46 am

  The detection used two different telescope systems and two different methods, so is practically certain to be real.
  The minimum mass of the planet is 1.3 times Earth's, but could be somewhat higher (up to 2.3 times Earth's mass) depending on the inclination of it's orbit relative to us.  This does not rule out a rocky planet like Earth and Venus.
  It is orbiting close to it's red dwarf star, with a "year" of 11.2 days, but since Proxima Centauri is much cooler than our star, Sol, that puts in the zone where liquid water can exist, aka the currently defined "habitable zone'' (!!!).
  Since small, cool red dwarfs are well known to have frequent large flairs of UV and X ray radiation, the surface might be regularly sterilized, but underground or in an ocean, life would still be possible.
  The planet (Proxima Centauri b) should be tidally locked (like our moon, Luna) and have one side always facing the star.  This would have various consequences on the surface temperatures depending on how dense an atmosphere (and the composition) it might have.
  Actual images of the planet (as a mere dot) will have to wait for the next generation of huge telescopes (which are currently in construction).

  WOO HOO!!!  An exoplanet barely over 4 light years away!!!   Pack your bags - and stick them in the closet for the next few decades......

  See this article/blog at http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/2016/0824-proxima-centauri-b-have-we.html (http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/2016/0824-proxima-centauri-b-have-we.html)

                                             Vidsek, Ferreter Extraordinare