How Exciting!
Kepler-22b -- planet known to comfortably circle in the habitable zone of a sun-like star!
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — NASA's planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft telescope has confirmed the discovery of its first alien world in its host star's habitable zone, the just-right range of distances that could allow liquid water to exist. It has also found more than 1,000 new exoplanet candidates, researchers announced December 5th.
The new finds bring the Kepler space telescope's total haul to 2,326 potential planets in its first 16 months of operation. These discoveries quadruple the current tally of worlds known to exist beyond our solar system, which recently topped 700.
The potentially habitable alien world, a first for Kepler named Kepler-22b, orbits a star very like our own sun. The discovery brings scientists one step closer to finding a planet like our own — one which could conceivably harbor life.
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This is such exciting news! What do you think? Do you believe intelligent life exists on other worlds? How about aliens who are much the same as we are?
Kaye
6 comments:
*wiggle dance*
Oh! I read this yesterday and was sooo excited about it. I can't wait until human technology allows us to visit these planets and see what is what. With that many options/potentials, the chance of another intelligent life existing is completely realitic. And with every new find the chance of one day finding intelligent life increases.
I sometimes wonder about the intelligent life on this planet.
But heck yeah, I believe. It's only logical that there would be more than one planet capable of producing intelligent life in this vast universe.
Now...if we could only reach each other.
I'm with Maria. I often wonder about this planet. But, the chances of our planet containing the only intelligent (?) life isn't likely.
I seen this on the news and was so excited. I'm a firm believer we are not the only intelligent life forms.
Okay, here's my geek-girl moment, because I think this is truly exciting. And with SETI now aiming their efforts at the earth-like planets found by the Keplar mission, it's just a matter of time. :)
AR -- I saw your post on this and it is so involved! Loved it.
Maria -- I so agree with you. I wonder about life on other planets all the time. And I really want to see this be revealed in my lifetime!
Linda -- Your are right. How could we be the only intelligent life around in billions upon billions of planets?
Jessica -- that's what I was thinking. With SETI and Kepler working on it how can we not find life? Exciting!!
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