Astrophysicists predict Earth-like planet in star system only 16 light years away

This is interesting, and if can be verified likely adds a new tool into the search for Earth sized exoplanets.

Source Article: Astrophysicists predict Earth-like planet in star system only 16 light years away

Date: August 17, 2017
Source: University of Texas at Arlington
Summary: Astrophysicists have predicted that an Earth-like planet may be lurking in a star system just 16 light years away. The team investigated the star system Gliese 832 for additional exoplanets residing between the two currently known alien worlds in this system. Their computations revealed that an additional Earth-like planet with a dynamically stable configuration may be residing at a distance ranging from 0.25 to 2.0 astronomical unit (AU) from the star.

"According to our calculations, this hypothetical alien world would probably have a mass between 1 to 15 Earth's masses," said the lead author Suman Satyal, UTA physics researcher, lecturer and laboratory supervisor. The paper is co-authored by John Griffith, UTA undergraduate student and long-time UTA physics professor Zdzislaw Musielak.

The astrophysicists published their findings this week as "Dynamics of a probable Earth-Like Planet in the GJ 832 System" in The Astrophysical Journal.

So,if they can verify these calculations in some way, it is plausible the same method could be used in other star systems too. The fact that this was done on a system only 16 LY away is astounding and very intriguing as another step towards remotely finding life on another world.

Please don't let it be the Clinton home planet....

I forgot the S&F. Great OP.

Are scientists and engineers putting as much zeal and effort into getting a person or robot out to another solar system?

originally posted by: carewemust
Are scientists and engineers putting as much zeal and effort into getting a person or robot out to another solar system?

Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Bright guy... works at Cal-Tech. He should go.

a reply to: Krakatoa

While it's a nice discovery, my greatest fear is in the next few centuries when we finally arrive there, it will be the property of Corporations a la Weyland-Yutani from Aliens.

a reply to: Krakatoa

Only 16 kight years!

Oh, wait...

originally posted by: madmac5150

originally posted by: carewemust
Are scientists and engineers putting as much zeal and effort into getting a person or robot out to another solar system?

Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Bright guy... works at Cal-Tech. He should go.

We're not sure if he's a person or a robot.

a reply to: Saint Exupery

He's a Mandroid.

Didn't they find earth like planets 4.3 light years away ?

www.newscientist.com...

originally posted by: manuelram16
Didn't they find earth like planets 4.3 light years away ?

www.newscientist.com...

This quote from your link confused me.

Alpha Centauri is a binary star system just 4.3 light years away from our own. In 2012 astronomers announced that the system had a planet, which they dubbed Alpha Centauri Bb

The constellation is Centaurus and the brightest star, or "Alpha", is α Centauri, hence the name Alpha Centauri. The second brightest star is β Centauri, or beta Centauri, not alpha Centauri beta. The Greek alphabet is used to designate the stars from brightest to dimmest. It appears that some consider alpha Centauri to be both a constellation and a star.

originally posted by: Saint Exupery

originally posted by: madmac5150

originally posted by: carewemust
Are scientists and engineers putting as much zeal and effort into getting a person or robot out to another solar system?

Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Bright guy... works at Cal-Tech. He should go.

We're not sure if he's a person or a robot.

True. At least he isn't crazy. His mother had him tested...

The constellation is Centaurus and the brightest star, or "Alpha", is α Centauri, hence the name Alpha Centauri. The second brightest star is β Centauri, or beta Centauri, not alpha Centauri beta. The Greek alphabet is used to designate the stars from brightest to dimmest. It appears that some consider alpha Centauri to be both a constellation and a star.

Alpha Centauri Bb was the given designation of a hypothetical planet orbiting Alpha Centauri B. In this case, the "B" does not stand for "Beta". It is simply the fainter component of the Alpha Centauri binary.

a reply to: Krakatoa

Thanks for the article.

There's actually an earth-like planet even closer - 4.4 light years away revolving around Proxima Centauri, which is a red dwarf. It's designation is Proxima Centauri B. More info below.

Exciting times, no?


en.wikipedia.org...

www.newsweek.com...

originally posted by: Mogget

The constellation is Centaurus and the brightest star, or "Alpha", is α Centauri, hence the name Alpha Centauri. The second brightest star is β Centauri, or beta Centauri, not alpha Centauri beta. The Greek alphabet is used to designate the stars from brightest to dimmest. It appears that some consider alpha Centauri to be both a constellation and a star.

Alpha Centauri Bb was the given designation of a hypothetical planet orbiting Alpha Centauri B. In this case, the "B" does not stand for "Beta". It is simply the fainter component of the Alpha Centauri binary.

Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to the Solar System, being 4.37 light-years (1.34 pc) from the Sun. It consists of three stars: Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, which form the binary star Alpha Centauri AB (also named Rigil Kentaurus), and a small and faint red dwarf, Alpha Centauri C (also named Proxima Centauri)

Source
Okay, I get it. Alpha Centauri B is one of three stars in a trinary system of α Centauri. Beta Centauri, or β Centauri, is another trinary system that is about 390 ly away. Thanks for helping me understand.

100 year project just to get data back from probes