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Exoplanet around Alpha Centauri is nearest-ever

Quote:

Astronomers have found the nearest planet outside our Solar System, circling one of the stars of Alpha Centauri just four light-years away.

The planet has at minimum the same mass as Earth, but circles its star far closer than Mercury orbits our Sun.

It is therefore outside the "habitable zone" denoting the possibility of life, as the researchers report in Nature.

However, studies on exoplanets increasingly show that a star with one planet is likely to have several.

At the very least, the work answers the question first posed in ancient times about planets around our nearest stellar neighbours.

The closest star to the Sun is Proxima Centauri, which is believed to be part of a three-star system that includes the brighter stars Alpha Centauri A and B.

The planet was found near Alpha Centauri B by the Harps instrument at the European Southern Observatory's La Silla facility in Chile.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19959531

17 October 2012 Last updated at 08:02 GMT

Do we know if it's inhabited by two-trunked baby elephants yet? :hmmm:

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike (Post 1949136)

Required

:up:

:cool:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptor1 (Post 1949137)

Do we know if it's inhabited by two-trunked baby elephants yet? :hmmm:

Did you say elephant....ordinary elephants on the move.

http://imageshack.us/a/img338/2517/91983077.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vendor (Post 1949524)

Did you say elephant....ordinary elephants on the move.

http://imageshack.us/a/img338/2517/91983077.jpg

Ordinary elephant pooping on another

http://www.omgsoysauce.com/wp-conten...phant-poop.jpg