Gliese 581 d : meets key requirements for sustaining life

[supertom]

Could exoplanet be a haven for life? - Yahoo!7

Scientists said a rocky world orbiting a nearby star was confirmed as the first planet outside our solar system to meet key requirements for sustaining life.

Modelling of planet Gliese 581d shows it has the potential to be warm and wet enough to nurture Earth-like life, they said.

It orbits a red dwarf star called Gliese 581, located around 20 light years from Earth, which makes it one of our closest neighbours.

[ZephyrusX]

OK supertom. We are going to send you off in a space ship to this planet. It is your mission to tell us if we can colonize it. While you are floating around in your tin can for years on end, just remember us. I'll send you a random clip of anime to keep you company

[supertom]

When the Vulcans make contact with earth and give us wrap drive or slip stream technology. We'll see who's laughing

Never gonna hear the end of that anime link

[ZephyrusX]

Originally Posted by supertom

When the Vulcans make contact with earth and give us wrap drive or slip stream technology. We'll see who's laughing

supertom; our space hero!

[James81]

Ok, if it's got potential for life, then they need to give it a less dorky name.

[cacheborn]

"Captain, life is not a dream." -- Spock (Star Trek V)

[secrets0stolen]

Originally Posted by cacheborn

You, my friend, may have usurped me as official Spock-quoter.
(One of the best lines in that movie!)



OP:
I read about that planet a few months back: exciting!

[cacheborn]

Originally Posted by secrets0stolen

You, my friend, may have usurped me as official Spock-quoter.
(One of the best lines in that movie!)

Thanks! Spock is my favorite character in the series.

[ZephyrusX]

cache... admit it... you changed your avatar to Spoke because you wanted all the women on this forum to drool over you

[cacheborn]

Originally Posted by ZephyrusX

cache... admit it... you changed your avatar to Spoke because you wanted all the women on this forum to drool over you

That's not fair Ms Z, opening secrets in front of everyone.

[supertom]

Change it to Jean-Luc and I'll start drooling too

[cacheborn]

Thanks, but no thanks supertom.

[Just One More]

So we've found a few within a handful of lightyears... Who's with me in thinking that there are billions of these guys in our galaxy alone?

[supertom]

Astronomers find lonely planets

Telstra BigPond News and Weather

[firenexx]

Hopefully, if it has life, they've already thought of a cooler name.

Their name for our planet is probably something like CEXZNISSON ALBERT 2220-3917478621D
When they meet us they'll be like "Oh, Earth is such a better name. We're idiots, sorry."

[cacheborn]

Originally Posted by firenexx

Hopefully, if it has life, they've already thought of a cooler name.

Their name for our planet is probably something like CEXZNISSON ALBERT 2220-3917478621D
When they meet us they'll be like "Oh, Earth is such a better name. We're idiots, sorry."

Have you read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? In that, the entry for Earth in the Galactic Encyclopedia reads, "mostly harmless."

[ZephyrusX]

Cool

Why are you saying awww though? Do you want to give those wondering souls a home?

Originally Posted by supertom

Astronomers find lonely planets

Telstra BigPond News and Weather

[secrets0stolen]

Originally Posted by cacheborn

Have you read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? In that, the entry for Earth in the Galactic Encyclopedia reads, "mostly harmless."

And that was after they updated it.

[AlmostGodess]

Now NASA should sign an agreement with Hollywood by which the latter undertakes the mission of preparing humanity for the next big thing. I am not sure about the colonization of space by our race. Some people still have not learned to live peacefully on Earth. I doubt they deserve to spread their ideas in other galaxies.

[cacheborn]

Originally Posted by secrets0stolen

And that was after they updated it.

Yes, before that it was just 'harmless.'

[ZephyrusX]

But if we send supertom up in his tin can, he will represent the best of human culture. (He needs a girl friend though ).

On a serious note, I do not completely agree with this. Yes, there are a lot of issues that we need to resolve on our own planet, and for that reason, I wouldn't want to see a space program that takes away too much resources from other endevours that will have a more direct humanitarian impact. On the other hand, I don't think that we will ever reach a perfect state. There always will be conflict over identity and resources. But I'd still like to see humanity explore and perhaps one day colonize other planets and galaxies. It seems trite to say 'because it will lead to humanity's growth'. That implies that we are growing towards something. I suppose I'd like to see this in order to see how yur consciousness will be challenged and to see how humanity will reorient its sense of order and meaning within a environment that is unknown to us. And perhaps in that, there is a potential for humanity to offer something of value (even if we are not perfect).

Originally Posted by AlmostGodess

Now NASA should sign an agreement with Hollywood by which the latter undertakes the mission of preparing humanity for the next big thing. I am not sure about the colonization of space by our race. Some people still have not learned to live peacefully on Earth. I doubt they deserve to spread their ideas in other galaxies.

[secrets0stolen]

Zephy, beautifully said. I'd like to see a manned mission to Mars, unfortunately NASA does not get very much funding. It unsettles me a little that the last time humanity put a person on a heavenly body it was so the US could best the Commies.

(At least, that's why, if I know my history, there was so much funding and federal push for it. I do not at all mean to imply that that's the only reason *anyone* was rejoicing over it. Heavens no.)

[Midwinter Mist]

Gliese 581d. Home. At least it was before I ****** everything up.

[AlmostGodess]

Originally Posted by ZephyrusX

But if we send supertom up in his tin can, he will represent the best of human culture. (He needs a girl friend though ).

On a serious note, I do not completely agree with this. Yes, there are a lot of issues that we need to resolve on our own planet, and for that reason, I wouldn't want to see a space program that takes away too much resources from other endevours that will have a more direct humanitarian impact. On the other hand, I don't think that we will ever reach a perfect state. There always will be conflict over identity and resources. But I'd still like to see humanity explore and perhaps one day colonize other planets and galaxies. It seems trite to say 'because it will lead to humanity's growth'. That implies that we are growing towards something. I suppose I'd like to see this in order to see how yur consciousness will be challenged and to see how humanity will reorient its sense of order and meaning within a environment that is unknown to us. And perhaps in that, there is a potential for humanity to offer something of value (even if we are not perfect).

Yes, I am sure Tommy would make a great colonizer

What about yourself, how would you live on another planet?

[ZephyrusX]

On reflection, I don't like the word colonizer due to its historical connotations. If we were to explore and populate other planets and galaxies, I hope that we do so for the purpose of challenging our own paradigms rather than for the purpose of imposing our own pre-existing sense of order. I would want to interact with the unknown in order to create a new way of being and perception that affirms the other without requiring us to be completely passive. There is my vague answer.

Originally Posted by AlmostGodess

Yes, I am sure Tommy would make a great colonizer

What about yourself, how would you live on another planet?