An Earth-like exoplanet with an atmosphere has been found

[Kevin Hamilton]

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170406152402.htm

Astronomers have detected an atmosphere around the super-Earth planet GJ 1132b. This marks the first detection of an atmosphere around an Earth-like planet other than Earth itself, and thus is a significant step on the path towards the detection of life outside our Solar System. The team that made the discovery, led by Keele University's Dr John Southworth, used the 2.2 m ESO/MPG telescope in Chile to take images of the planet's host star GJ 1132. They were able to measure the slight decrease in brightness as the planet and its atmosphere absorbed some of the starlight while transiting (passing in front of) the host star.

Dr John Southworth explains, "While this is not the detection of life on another planet, it's an important step in the right direction: the detection of an atmosphere around the super-Earth GJ 1132b marks the first time that an atmosphere has been detected around an Earth-like planet other than Earth itself."

Way cool

[Deleted]

One step closer to finding a race like these guys out there.

[Alice Syndrome]

I think this is awesome, but I always wanna know how they ever figure out anything about dots a billion miles away.

[Push R Truth]

Soon we shall have our REVENGE on Bigfoot

[Jiren]

please call it Mondas

[Mozenrath]

To think, somewhere, out there, Bigfoot's cousins are making it happen.

[y4j1981]

"Yes, please come and investigate!"

[Confused Mark Wahlberg]

All right! See you guys later!

[The Thread Barbi]

But is it flat?

[Magnus the Magnificent]

Apr 8, 2017 11:08:00 GMT -5 The Thread Barbi said:

But is it flat?

No, it's apartment!


*crickets*

[Hit Girl]

Apr 8, 2017 1:44:24 GMT -5 Alice Syndrome said:

I think this is awesome, but I always wanna know how they ever figure out anything about dots a billion miles away.

If they pass in front of their stars, you can learn a lot about them, like their size, orbital period/speed, atmosphere, the presence of moons and ring systems etc...

[Hurbster]

Or they used Geth space magic, as explained in ME:Andromeda...

[Deleted]

Bagsie it

[J. Hova]

I've always been a space geek and find so much of these discoveries unbelievably interesting. I could listen to Neil DeGrasse Tyson talk about this stuff for days.

The fact that we keep finding these exoplanets almost at an exponential pace and these worlds continue to trend towards being more and more earthlike just makes me laugh when people will suggest we are the only ones in the universe. I'm 32 years old and hope in my lifetime we find 'the one' with all the signatures of life or even a signal from somewhere indicating that there is something out there. That isn't to mention the religious implications all of that would bring or should bring the world over.

[segaz]

Apr 9, 2017 4:41:30 GMT -5 J. Hova said:

I've always been a space geek and find so much of these discoveries unbelievably interesting. I could listen to Neil DeGrasse Tyson talk about this stuff for days.

The fact that we keep finding these exoplanets almost at an exponential pace and these worlds continue to trend towards being more and more earthlike just makes me laugh when people will suggest we are the only ones in the universe. I'm 32 years old and hope in my lifetime we find 'the one' with all the signatures of life or even a signal from somewhere indicating that there is something out there. That isn't to mention the religious implications all of that would bring or should bring the world over.

And imagine if the opposite happened and this so called Jesus fella actually did return.
I rather think it'd have the same effect, if not bigger, don't you?

[Hit Girl]

There's no way we are the only ones in the universe. The conditions for life to develop here are probably common. An exoplanet orbiting in the goldilocks zone around its star would already create a massive probability of life existing, even if it's just primitive. As for DeGrasse Tyson, I like him, except for the attitude he takes towards Pluto's status.

[Mozenrath]

Their people have already made contact.

[J. Hova]

Apr 9, 2017 9:30:26 GMT -5 segaz said:

Apr 9, 2017 4:41:30 GMT -5 J. Hova said:

I've always been a space geek and find so much of these discoveries unbelievably interesting. I could listen to Neil DeGrasse Tyson talk about this stuff for days.

The fact that we keep finding these exoplanets almost at an exponential pace and these worlds continue to trend towards being more and more earthlike just makes me laugh when people will suggest we are the only ones in the universe. I'm 32 years old and hope in my lifetime we find 'the one' with all the signatures of life or even a signal from somewhere indicating that there is something out there. That isn't to mention the religious implications all of that would bring or should bring the world over.

And imagine if the opposite happened and this so called Jesus fella actually did return.
I rather think it'd have the same effect, if not bigger, don't you?

If that would happen, absolutely. I just wouldn't hold my breath on either happening anytime soon.