In THIS ARTICLE (http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/04/24/exoplanet.reut/index.html), European scientists have stated that they have located a Red Dwarf star (Gliese 581). In this star's solar system, there is an Earth sized planet that is in the ideal temperate zone for liquid water to exist. Unfortunately, the star is over 120 trillion miles away. This is actually pretty close. Read the article, then post your feelings.
I would say this is a very exciting thing. Even though the planet has not been visually encountered, the possibility of liquid water is remarkable. So many factors come in to play about communication, such as if there is actually intelligent life there, if they have the ability to detect and transmit radio waves, and so on. The 6 light-year distance is daunting, but since all radio waves travel at the speed of light in empty space, it would mean a 12 year turnaround in the slim chance that some kind of communication could occur.
I don't know where you got the "Earth-sized" from, it's 50% larger than earth.
Also, emphasis on European.
It is exciting, but it won't really mean anything until we have the technology to see/contact it.
Oh my, I find this quite exciting, a 20 light year difference is nothing compared to what the percentages where given for an earth like planet being near. In fact, the length from us seems quite minimal really.
If the planet does indeed still contain water, then I think it will become a great jumping stone in our understanding of the creation of life itself. Bravo to the discoverers~
Personally, I'm more excited about the prospect of colonization ;)
Still, all of this is years off. But it gives all govts a reason to fund space research.
You'd think so wouldn't you?
Yes, yes I would. Got something to say about it?
amigos, i am for colonization, this could give us a new oppurtunity to seek new resources. I mean, earth itself has like around 7 or 5% (if im wrong, only a small fraction) of fresh water. who knows, that planet could have more water on it! But still, we're nowhere unless we build the technology for it. And this could spark gov't funding for space. But still, the possibilities are endless, and if we all act now, we may discover new, and even better beneficial things.
Lol, resources? It would be a twenty year journey if you where traveling at the speed of light, and we won't be traveling close to those speeds for a looooooong time, I also wouldn't count of some sort of shortcut technology being found either... We might know what's on the planet in a few hundred years, but I doubt a visit would be anytime soon.
Colonisation is an exiting thing too, but just because the planet is at the right temperature, doesn't mean it's suitable for human life. I think the planet is in short distance to us in the grand scheme of things, and someday (if things along the line of manipulating wormholes and other 'short cuts' turn out to be a pipedream) this will give us a real planet, that is close enough to observe and if needed, utilise.
Depending on how easily life is formed, if the planet had some type of viral life, we would have no built in natural defense to it, meaning we would need something to protect us from it, something good. Also the reverse may happen, if we brought something external that damages the natural life, if any, we could really do some harm. Colonisation of a live planet may be more taboo then that of a dead.
If we have such heavy debate on the morality of terraforming of Mars, would we really come to a conclusion on colonisation of a planet that has a real chance of harboring life naturally?
Actually, since the speed of light is kind of relative to your speed...>__>
You know...
...Theory of relativity and all...
Yesh, I know nothing can travel at, or past the speed of light without being turned into energy, but I'm sure you can get close to it~
well it may be possible....
Quote from: Deliciously_Saucy on April 26, 2007, 05:52:38 AM
nothing can travel at, or past the speed of light without being turned into energy
In theory.
They estimate at our current technology (even though we couldn't make a ship that would be able to go that far) it'd take on the order of a quarter of a millennia =o
Well I wasn't really thinking about traveling there. More just sending signals.
Well what about instantaneous teleportation? if we could harness that, who knows.
I dunno, after spending a couple of hours reading all about light, relativity, wormholes, black holes and everything in between on wikipedia, maybe it's possible. It certainly sounds plausible, though of course the technology required would be uh, well, =o
Quote from: Deliciously_Saucy on April 26, 2007, 04:44:54 AM
It would be a twenty year journey if you were traveling at the speed of light.
Not to mention that if you travel at that speed you turn into energy you said...
This makes the whole thing boring and seemingly futile. Unless a group of us decide to waste twenty or so years traveling to a planet that could possibly not be what it seems. All they know is liquid water right? That doesn't mean it's the same as Earth does it?
QuoteThis makes the whole thing boring and seemingly futile. Unless a group of us decide to waste twenty or so years traveling to a planet that could possibly not be what it seems.
It wouldn't be wasting 2o years, it could be wasting 5o, or 2oo. If the atmosphere was suitable for humans, I assure you that people would want to go, and in the time it would require us to build a stable stasis/cryogenic system, space travel will have more corporate investment, meaning the government would have less to no say on whether it's "worth" sending people there. If it's livable, I assure you Virgin would offer flight plans to the public~
The reason why this is quite exciting is because one, the estimated distance for earth-like planets (being the right distance from the sun and having a defender planet like Jupiter) are one every 100 light years (which isn't that much really). So a 2o LY distance is quite a fine compromise, no? IF the planet has water on it, we will receive a huge jump in the information of life's creation, even if there is no life what so ever.
I truly don't see reasons to send targeted signals like Holk suggested as while life may be present, the fact that we haven't received any signals (radio, irregular noise) shows that they would not be intelligent enough to make it, therefore receive it.
Two, I highly and utterly doubt that IF life is there in any form, it would be self aware-intelligent life, as I assure you we humans are an utmost freak of nature. High intelligences is not needed, at all, for nature to continue and thrive, therefore natural evolution wont automatically stray to that path.
Three, we
are sending them signals, that planet has received millions of them. Tv, radio and of course the infamous W.O.T~ SETI.
I would be surprised and empathically happy if we found a basic mildew there quite frankly =o
To clear it up ataraxy~ No we don't know if water's there, it may have evaporated in the early stages of the planets life. It's still very exciting though =)
Theory of relativity...hmmm...Theory...*hasn't been proven*....and with us like we are I'm sure we can break that rule if we try hard enough.
It does sound exciting that a planet might be there that we can survive on, but it's not going to be open to us for another 500 years.
(delves into research for immortality)
We're going to the moon for natural resources. Fact. We don't need this new, gay ass planet.
ooooooooooooooppppzzzzzzzzzz, what exactly is yer purpose on this here forum? to spam us to death?
By the way, they're planning to colonize on the moon and mars.
Colonize? No. Go there for natural resources? Yes.
Mars? Yes... Moon, maybe not, but Russia is planning to extract iron from it.
Heres the plans of terraforming mars.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/terraforming.htm (http://science.howstuffworks.com/terraforming.htm)
I lol'd you're fucking rediculous kid. Stop coming up with these lame ass articles. We will never colonize Mars. Gtfo. Going to the Moon for natural resourcess, however, is a reality.
Quote from: Lackluster on May 06, 2007, 06:08:31 PM
I lol'd you're fucking rediculous kid. Stop coming up with these lame ass articles. We will never colonize Mars. Gtfo. Going to the Moon for natural resourcess, however, is a reality.
cursing doesnt make you look smart, just the other way around...
also, im not responsible for what articles the internet provides me....
Scientists say theres a high chance of terraforming mars, as did all my science and physics teachers said.
You're science and physics teachers are retarded then.
nah, i'd just say give me 10 reasons why they are.....
if they were retarded, they wouldn't be teaching anyways...
im thinking you're denying the fact that mars will be terraformed.
1. You haven't taken physics.
2. It isn't hard to become a teacher (especially middle school)
3. I know more about half my college professors subjects than they do.
4. Your articles are from unreliable sources.
1. i take advanced classes...
2. as do all teachers...
3. good for you, no one cares...
4. not my problem...
Advanced classes still wouldn't take you to physics unless you were a freshman right now.
Stop arguing Lackluster. I know you have your own thoughts and stuff, but..
First of all.
QuoteI lol'd you're fucking rediculous kid.
Isn't that flaming?
Second of all.
QuoteStop coming up with these lame ass articles
I found these artical very intersting, so they are not lame ass articals.
Third Of all.
QuoteWe will never colonize Mars
With the futuring tecnoligy, nothing is impossible.
Anyway, back to topic. I found this interesting. Some says that water has been on Mars long time ago, and I belive that we someday will colonize other planets. Nothing is impossible.
some scientists say that mars has frozen water at its poles, and the canal like structures on mars served as bodies of water.
Quote from: Ruhani777 on May 06, 2007, 05:45:07 PM
ooooooooooooooppppzzzzzzzzzz, what exactly is yer purpose on this here forum? to spam us to death?
By the way, they're planning to colonize on the moon and mars.
i agree but if we survive nd earth is like dead .....we might have to colonize.....itz not gonna happn in my life time so im gud
@ChaosSoldier92- Learn how to fucking spell and use proper English, especially in this section.
@Lackluster- Why don't you think the terraformation of Mars is possible..?
Quote from: Deliciously_Saucy on May 09, 2007, 07:38:36 AM
@ChaosSoldier92- Learn how to fucking spell and use proper English, especially in this section.
@Lackluster- Why don't you think the terraformation of Mars is possible..?
Possible? Yes. Will it ever happen? No. The Earth will collapse in upon itself before that happens....
QuoteThe Earth will collapse in upon itself before that happens....
That's beautiful. I really doubt people won't want to check out forming a civilization on another planet though. Apparently it's interesting and... stuff. Colonizing Mars sounds unrealistic simply because of how much work and effort it'd require, getting natural resources from either sounds a lot easier to do and so it's more likely... right?
Okay so I do find it a little interesting. But really... how much evidence do we have? Beside knowing that the temperature of this planet is hand-in-hand with water existing and that signals have been sent is there anything else?
QuoteTo clear it up ataraxy~ No we don't know if water's there, it may have evaporated in the early stages of the planets life. It's still very exciting though =)
You mocking me? xD I read the whole thing... anyway I'm missing what's exciting about it. Sure it's sort of interesting but at the moment it's just a possibility, and will we ever actually set foot on the planet?
Every thread gets shit on.
I find the topic very interesting. This thread actually gives me a very good idea...
Yeah, the topic was interesting. Until it got turned into another boring terraforming thread.
That's the interesting part. When people learn of a new place that may be inhabitable, what's the first thing they think of? CONQUEST! Why is that the way we work? That's what I'm interested in.
It's not very hot right now, I don't think we'll have to move out of this planet in... like, 200 years...? ???
When human population becomes too big for our small planet, outer space colonization will become a necessity. And that might happen in the next centuries if you take in consideration that the world's population has grown over 6 times since world war II.
But of course it can only be done if humanity doesn't destroy itself first.....
Quote from: Lestan on May 13, 2007, 07:34:40 PM
When human population becomes too big for our small planet, outer space colonization will become a necessity. And that might happen in the next centuries if you take in consideration that the world's population has grown over 6 times since world war II.
But of course it can only be done if humanity doesn't destroy itself first.....
I'm quoting you, but this is directed at everybody.
I don't think a lot of you have your date estimations very clear. Mars being colonized, (or even colo
nizable) is a long way off. Anyway, this topic isn't about Mars. It's about Gliese 581 and the Gliese system. If I wanted to start another boring Mars topic, I would have.
Are you going to? ;8
Well, first of all, it is NOT along way off. None of this is. It is very possible for technology to suddenly have a growthspurt and advance itself long before it is suplposed to; for example, on a small scale, the airplane was invented a year before the Model T. Now, how do you figure that flight comes before land? It doesn't. So, going to the Geise planet and colonizing Mars are both possible - especially Mars, which would only require enough time to grow some trees and set up some bases. Of course, the only problem with any of this is air, which I'll leave you guys to think about.
WcW. Your opinions about how far off Mars colonization is have NO PLACE IN THIS TOPIC. If you wish to discuss it, do so ELSEwhere!
Quote from: WcW on May 16, 2007, 08:47:02 PM
...
1) As Arrow said, off-topic. Especially so given that the author has expressed he didn't want this to be about Mars
two posts before yours.
2) You know fuck all about terraformation.
3) Both in all likeliness
are a long way off. Know otherwise? Show it. (Your pathetic reasonings don't count ;))
4) With the closest technology that could be used to terraform Mars, it would take a minimum 100years to do so.
5) We personally won't be visiting this planet in a very long time. It comes down to one little theory;
While it may seem probably that we could make a giant spacecraft to slowly take us to the planet over a handful of centuries with us in stasis (which may be possible
"soon" enough) the people who stayed behind will have already invented something that could take them to the planet faster and get there before team one is even half way through.
If you can't travel at a reasonably fast speed, there's no need to go for that very reason.
We're not going to the planet for a looong time, unless forced. Simple.
Any more posts made on the terraformation of Mars, or similar, will be deleted.
I'd like to terraform Saucy...
Quote from: Holkeye on May 17, 2007, 11:47:08 AM
I'd like to terraform Saucy...
Ditto. We should really be more on topic, so, someone be on topic.
Well, since this is my topic, and it hasn't been on track for about a week, I don't really care anymore. People got lost in their sci-fi fantasies and ruined it.
I'd be extremely surprised if Earth is the only planet to inhabit living creatures. Space is so large that it'd be impossible to tell in our lifetime if there would be life out there. It really makes me think, to what just might be out there.
But it would be nice. We would have an ally, shortcuts on our technology, and way more stuff.
I highly doubt an advanced alien technology would be stupid enough to be our ally, or give us more advanced technology.
Quote from: biohazard on May 24, 2007, 12:51:29 AM
I highly doubt an advanced alien technology would be stupid enough to be our ally, or give us more advanced technology.
Case in point... ::)
Joking of course.
Why wouldn't they? We are probably more advanced in something that they aren't. You don't need to master cookie making to travel in space. And you do live life until you eat a cookie, either. ;8
This debate has lost all decency.
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