The Goldilocks zone
October 5th 2010 02:21
Category: No Category
Astro image by CarlCan
There is potential for planets like our own to exist elsewhere within our galaxy, the assumption is a reasonable one.
For we are truly fortunate to be located in a spot in our galaxy that is at just the right distance from the center of our galaxy and residing on the outer limb of our spiral galaxy in a sense we are in the goldilocks zone.
If we were located nearer to the center we in all justification not exist as we are. The reason is the huge amount of cosmic and Gamma radiation would mean that our organic celled bodies would not have evolved into who we now are.
The probability that a zone let’s call it the goldilocks zone can be in a location much like our own where planets much like our own have been created.
Earthlike when a new world is discovered a in a region of space that is light years away from our solar system the media tends to call it “earthlike” Just because a planet may exhibit earthlike characteristics does not necessarily mean its earthlike.
Take for instance the recent media interest regarding the new planet fount beyond our solar system Gliese 581c what is the media sudden interest?
My guess is that the news stories where a little light on the day and they had to find something to beat up.
I worked in the media industry but at times it does get on my goat. There two things in particular that really gets me going.
Most journalist and news editors don’t know the difference between the terms Hypothermia and Hyperthermia. For example a refugee dies in the desert from hypothermia.
So the poor refugee dies in the desert from cold? remember Hypo in Greek means low not high.
Now I will get off my soapbox.
Getting back to the point.
Gliese 581c this planet was discovered some years ago, they found another one, well not really the “new” planet was thought to have been there when the first planet Gliese 581c was initially found.
Gliese 581 is a red dwarf star with spectral type M3V, located 20.3 light years away from Earth.
New Planet Gliese 581 G found in orbit around this red dwarf star Gliese 581 is said to be an Earth-like planet.
Gliese 581 G revolves around its star every 37 days and is about 14 million miles away from the star.
At this distance the planet’s surface would hell on earth. We need to rethink what we mean when we referrer to another Extrasolar planet as being earth-like.
The possibility that a planet that has true earth-like may be found in the future the probability that it will be found in the so called goldilocks zone is high.
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
The term "Goldilocks" puzzled me a little until I realized it meant, "not too hot, not too cold. Just right!" Boy, am I slow on the draw tonight! LOL
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Camera Sense
I chose an unusual term in goldilocks I guess it makes a point.
The other terms I was referring to are taken out of context when used in media stories.
I have seen stories whereby people who died in freezing cold water as dying of hyperthermia in other words they died of extreme heat.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief