Mars ain’t the kind of place …
by Tom Sullivan
Artist’s impression, view from planet orbiting TRAPPIST-1. M. Kornmesser / European Southern Observatory (ESO).
A mere 39 light-years away floats Trappist-1, a star system with seven Earth-sized planets, several in the dwarf star’s “habitable zone.” That is, at a distance where the surface might sustain liquid water. Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids. Maybe one of the Trappist-1 planets. Even the Google doodle is jazzed by the announcement in Nature.
The Washington Post:
The newly discovered solar system resembles a scaled-down version of our own. The star at its center, an ultra-cool dwarf called TRAPPIST-1, is less than a tenth the size of our sun and about a quarter as warm. Its planets circle tightly around it; the closest takes just a day and a half to complete an orbit and the most distant takes about 20 days.
[…]
The researchers call these worlds “Earthlike,” though it’s a generous term. The planets of the TRAPPIST-1 system do resemble Earth in terms of size, mass and the energy they receive from their star, but there’s a lot that makes our planet livable besides being a warm rock. Further observation is required to determine the composition of the TRAPPIST-1 bodies, if they have atmospheres and if they hold water, methane, oxygen and carbon dioxide — the molecules that scientists consider “biosignatures,” or signs of life.
It’s inspiring and hopeful news in a period where U.S. governmental science programs are under the thumb of anti-science throwbacks and the Washington Post feels the need to change its slogan to Democracy Dies in Darkness.
Frankly, that reads like a teaser for Alien: Covenant (4 min. clip here). But I suppose it’s better than “In space no one can hear you scream.” Which is what it must feel like about now to be a Republican congress-critter at a town hall meeting.
Tonight! What does 'Democracy Dies in Darkness' mean to you? #LSSC pic.twitter.com/ib9NZ5prVv— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) February 23, 2017