NASA Finds Planet in ‘Habitable Zone’ That Could Sustain Life

[Gerald]

Kepler-22b, scientists say, has a fighting chance at sustaining liquid water and perhaps even life.

Whats the measure of life? Before you get all existential on us, were talking about the physical calculation for life to exist. Scientists have not yet found any sort of alien creatures on another planet, but they are pretty certain that such a planet would have to include water. After all, the best frame of reference is our own human lives. At least 60% of the body is water, and water is present in nearly every living object on this earth. Which makes the discovery of new planet Kepler-22b so thrilling.NASAs Kepler mission discovered the planet, simply named Kepler-22b, which lies in a habitable zone in a distant galaxy. NASA says its the first planet found, other than our own, that could sustain liquid water on its surface.While located 600 light years away from Earth, Kepler-22b is perched an ideal distance away from its central star that could allow it to hold water. Indeed, many of the planet;s qualities are comparable to Earths, leaving scientists gleeful about its possibility of sustaining life.This is a major milestone on the road to finding Earths twin, Kepler scientist Douglas Hudgins said in a statement.

Our own solar system compared to Kepler-22, a star system containing the first "habitable zone" planet, Kepler-22b. The habitable zone is the sweet spot around a star where temperatures are right for water to exist in its liquid form.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/12/05/...-sustain-life/



Note: December 5, 2011