Researchers can't seem to make up there mind, especially about the controversial Gliese 581c planet, coined the most earth-like planet out there. New models created have estimated that Gliese 581c is a rampant greenhouse planet, just like Venus, although the new models have been contested.
We set our sights towards Gliese 581d, a world of as massive as eight Earths, now is a likely candidate for life. Despite the fact that it is slightly outside the habitable zone, researchers speculate that greenhouse effects may make it warm enough to support primitive life.
On the star side, Gliese 581 is a stable burning star that has been around for a few billion years. In terms of light,brightness, and heat, it is very similar to our own star and researchers believe that if life is found outside of the solar system, a star like this likely will their "sun".
October 3, 2007
C or D?
October 1, 2007
Gliese 581c: An Extrasolar Earth?
Gliese 581 c, the incredibly creative name of a planet found orbiting red dwarf Gliese 581, is not like any exoplanets we know. Most exoplanets are huge, massive, gas giants. They often are hot as lava, called hot 'jupiters', or five times as cold as our arctic. But not Gliese 581c. If we had to pick which exoplanet had life on it, all bets would be on Gliese 581 c, and here's why.
Gliese 581 c is located in "the habitable zone". The habitable zone is the exact distance from the Sun (or another star) that a planet can be at that liquid water will not permanently freeze or completely evaporate. Gliese 581 c is located within the habitable zone of its star, Gliese 581, and if liquid water were present on the surface, it would act and behave much the same way it would on Earth.
Current models predict Gliese 581 c is either a very rocky planet, or a complete oceanic planet, with no visible land. Either way there is no way to know for sure (yet) what the surface of this planet holds.
All bets are on Gliese 581 c. Gliese 581c X-Prize anyone?
