Goldilocks Planets Not So Uncommon After All

I'm completely shocked to learn from new research that planets within the Goldilocks range other than Earth not only do exist, but are actually quite common!  Alright, so I'm not surprised at all.  Once again our human notion that we are unique in this universe that appears endless due to our limited knowledge and imaginations. A Goldilocks planet must be not too hot, not too cold.  Also, not too big yet not too small.  Finally, the star must be not too big not too small.

One Seattle Times article focuses a little more on the method of discovery of planets, and another dares to ask the galaxy's most provocative question: Are We Alone?  Time Magazine also has an in-depth look at the planet in question.

Of the more notable quotes is one from co-discoverer Steven Vogt of the University of California at Santa Cruz, "chances for life on this planet are 100 percent."  Well, there you have it folks!  Steve Vogt knows something that we don't.  He's already made contact!  In another insightful quote he says, "It's not a very interesting name [Gliese 581g] and it's a beautiful planet," Vogt said. Unofficially, he's named it after his wife: "I call it Zarmina's World."  Then we would call these people Zarminians?  The most revealing thing about this statement is that he says this is a beautiful planet...  Anyone familiar with the method for detecting interstellar planets knows that he has absolutely no idea what Zarmina's World looks like!  They measure the wobble of the star as the planet orbits.  This gives them data such as the mass, distance from the star, and orbit of the planet.  This brings us to the startling conclusion once again that the man has been to the planet.


But seriously, "Either we have just been incredibly lucky in this early detection, or we are truly on the threshold of a second Age of Discovery," they wrote.  The search for Earth-like planets is only in its infancy, yet we have already found at least 1 suitable candidate just 11 years into the project.  So just how common are habitable planets (assuming that only Earth-like planets are habitable and that life must have water)?


So far, scientists have discovered about 500 planets in our "neighborhood".  This is the first to sit right in the middle of the habitable zone, like Earth.  In an optimistic calculation, they figured that as much as 1 in 5 to 10 stars in the universe could have a habitable planet.  With an estimated 200 billion stars in the universe, that means maybe 40 billion planets that have the potential for life, Vogt said.


As many as 40 Billion habitable planets in the universe...  And some of you still think we're alone!!!  The real question is how do we tap into the galactic network and will we get along with our neighbors?

Space Quotes

Upon seizing the galactic core, one utrabot said, "Fleshlings drool, ultrabots rule!"