"Kepler 22b" More Goldilocks Planet info available!

[Falconer02]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/8939138/Kepler-22b-the-new-Earth-could-have-oceans-and-continents-scientists-claim.html

"The new planet was discovered by Nasa’s Kepler space telescope two years ago but new research has identified it as the most similar to our own yet discovered. Kepler 22b is about twice the size of Earth and has temperatures which average around 72 degrees (22 Celsius). It also contains the right atmosphere to potentially support life. However, there is a downside: it is 600 light years from Earth."


(3d image-- not real)

Cool stuff! We're one step closer to possibly finding life out in the universe. It's times like this that I think maybe there is primitive life out there that's at a much earlier stage of evolution than we currently are. Or maybe there's life out there that's already exploring solar systems. Or maybe there are civilizations that are already extinct? When you see planets out there that could support life and then you look at the vastness and seemingly endless amount of space in the universe, it's fun and interesting to speculate. Share your thoughts if you wish.

[falcon9]

The following is the Drake equation, (calculates potential for detectable non-solar civilizations):

'N = RfpneflfifcL

In this equation, N is the number of detectable civilizations in our galaxy. The other variables are described below:
•R is the rate of star formation in the galaxy
•fp is the fraction of stars that form planets
•ne is the number of planets hospitable to life (i.e., Earth-like planets)
•fl is the fraction of these planets on which life actually emerges
•fi is the fraction of these planets on which intelligent life arises
•fc is the fraction of these planets with intelligent beings capable of interstellar communication
•L is the length of time such a civilization remains detectable

The only variable known with any degree of certainty is the rate of stellar formation, R. In the Milky Way, a typical spiral galaxy, new stars form at a rate of roughly four per year. The variable astronomers feel most uncertain about is L, the length of time a civilization remains detectable. A variety of estimates have been used for L, ranging from 10 years to 10 million years.

If we take our solar system as representative, then we might argue that ne equals 1/4 or 0.25. Similar guesses have been made about the other variables and, interestingly, they all end up having very similar values, usually in a range between 0.1 and 1.0. So, a typical calculation might look like this:

N = 4 x 0.5 x 0.25 x 0.2 x 0.2 x 0.2 x 3,000,000

... which gives us a value of 12,000 civilizations in our galaxy.'

[Abrupt]

I enjoy discoveries like this and the science and applied theories behind it all.  When you look deeper it loses a bit of its luster as you realize that basically what was detected was a 'smudge' over a 10 year period of time (or so).  The rest came from interpretation and is fascinating in its own regard just.  I think I would have preferred it if they would have left out the concept art but regardless I find it all very impressive.

[prtee33]

With temperatures averaging 72 degrees scientists should rename the planet. Call it San Diego.