It may seem a bit odd that, on Earth Day of all days, I am focusing this blog entry on another planet entirely. But the reality is that our focus has taken us to think of exploring for another habitable planet, a planet that could host life, presumably ours, rather than fixing up what we have got here, before it's too late. Obviously, I do not agree with this. But the search for a habitable planet (or moon) continues, and it is absolutely fascinating. Perhaps, also, it is within the realm of plausibility (however remote that possibility appears to be at this moment) that this could be a glimpse into our future. Either way, it is an endless source of fascination, with questions regarding not just science, but philosophy and even morality in such a fate, something that the hit movie Avatar explored well. The chances seem remote, but every now and then, someone finds something. That opens up the possibility, and however slim, it is enough of a sliver of light to capture the imagination, and possibly the ambition, of some.
The latest is from a very distant planet that orbits around another star, around 490 light-years from Earth. It has been named Kepler-186f. Such an endearing name, huh? I get the "Kepler" part, but the 186f thing makes it sound...well, so classified.But it has a nickname: "Earth's cousin". It is possible that life could exist, and even thrive - although no one knows for sure just yet.
Kepler-186f it is slightly larger than Earth is, and it is part of a star system where water could exist on the planet's surface.
It's star is cooler than the sun.
The thing is, I wonder what happens if we do find out that such a planet is habitable? Would we set out for it, some way or another? And if so, would that reduce the need to try and save the life that exists on this planet, while there is still time (assuming there is still time)?
What if we actually reached it? Would we find other life there? Would it be like a real-life Avatar movie, with us colonizing and trying to profit at any cost? If we are the more advanced species, would they then have to make way for us?
Or, what if the planet was not nearly as hospitable to support life as we imagined it would be? What then?
How would we ever reach it, anyway? Obviously, we would have to build an enormous space vessel, and unless we come up with a way of going faster than the speed of light, when we cannot even come close to the speed of light right now? Stephen Hawking suggested that we might have around 100 years to find a way to live life in outer space, because for all intents and purposes, he feels (probably with good reason) that life here (at least human life) is not going to last much longer.
"Found! First Earth-Size Planet That Could Support Life" by Miriam Kramer, Staff Writer for SPACE.com, April 17, 2014:
http://www.space.com/25530-earthsize-exoplanet-kepler-186f-habitable-discovery.html
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