Everything Southern Humboldt and more
A Goldilocks planet is one which orbits in the sweet zone of distance from the sun with regard to life-friendly temperatures – basically those temperatures which would allow for an abundance of liquid water.
While there are literally billions and billions of such planets, this is the first to be confirmed by us.
The image comes from USA Today, and generated by Zina Deretsky, NSF.
Addendum: In other science news, it turns out that killing wolves deprives a region of water.
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September 30, 2010 at 8:18 pm
jendocino
Some astronomers believe that this planet has a 100% chance of having some form of life on it already. Very cool! Makes me feel small, which is an appropriate way to feel.
September 30, 2010 at 8:39 pm
PAN
This is so confusing. Do you suppose that God made more than one Adam and Eve?
September 30, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Eric Kirk
CS Lewis’ Perelandra (not sure if I’m spelling it right) has an Adam/Eve pair on Venus – identical to our own except they have green skin and yellow hair. Emissary’s from God and Satan are sent there to influence their fate. Will they fail again?
Some Christians rejected the theology believing that the entire universe fell when Adam and Eve failed. Imagine how aliens must feel that we blew it for everybody!
You’ll be comforted to know that the Catholic Church does have a special commission to determine whether aliens from other planets have souls, and whether they need to be evangelized and saved, or whether they live in grace as their adams/eves didn’t fail.
September 30, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Anonymous
Why “Goldilocks” and not “Baby Bear?” It was his porridge!
October 1, 2010 at 1:15 pm
anonymous
100% chance of life on that planet? I wouldn’t want any of those astronomers as my bookie. The origin of life on earth is a highly contested subject, and the odds of its happening seem to have been very small (so small that some eminent scientists hypothesize that life arrived here from outer space). As Wendell Berry entitled one of his books: “Life is a Miracle.”
October 1, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Mr. Nice
I wonder if it is news on this planet that Earthlings have finally identified us.