Extrasolar planet found orbiting Proxima Centauri

orb

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N_Molson

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We're a small step closer from interstellar travel, and that's good. In an "evacuate Earth" scenario, such a close target would be invaluable.

4987466_6_7aa6_vue-d-artiste-de-la-surface-de-la-planete_7d9dec2ecc628c399d2cda1ee2dfb6ec.jpg

Artist view
 

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Back in the 1980s there was a book published by Stewart Cowley with lots of fantastical science fiction paintings and a made-up future history narrative to link them all together. I still have a copy.

In that narrative, sometime during the 21st Century Earth gets into an interstellar war with the Proximans. I really hope the book isn't quite as accurate in predictions; human colonies on Mars get hit really hard with Proximan nukes.

The yellowish-colored fighters on the cover art are supposed to be Proximan spacecraft, shown here escorting a Terran starship after the peace treaty is signed:

iu
 

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Back in the 1980s there was a book published by Stewart Cowley ...

I happen to own a copy of the same book! In the German version the editor is 'Commander' Stewart Cowley, a member of the Terran Space force during the Centauri wars. :) The book was my primary source of imagination on spaceships in the pre-internet era!
 

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I happen to own a copy of the same book! In the German version the editor is 'Commander' Stewart Cowley, a member of the Terran Space force during the Centauri wars. :) The book was my primary source of imagination on spaceships in the pre-internet era!

I looked up Cmdr. Cowley last night and it seems he maintains a website: http://www.greatspacebattles.com/
 

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so it's a possibly rocky possible planet with a 12 day year in a zone that makes liquid water possible (if any there!), no knowledge about radiation - immediately it's "earthlike" . . . I dunno - leave it to the Proximen

(and we got thrown out of Eden . . .)
 

fsci123

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I know we will never visit this planet in my lifetime but im glad that the current state of technology will allow us to get a decent snapshot of this planets conditions. Within a decade or two we would know the composition of its atmosphere, its color, and if were lucky, a rudimentary map of it.
 

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Proxima, I think, is drawn too small there.
In comparison to Sol, it should be something like at the right side of the image:
Proxima-b-and-star-panel.jpg


EDIT: A better image:
proxima-centauri-b-POV-comparison.jpg
 

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This is amazing, I dont understand why its not in first page of all newspapers. An exo-planet in the most near system, in the habitable zone, and with a mass similar to Earth. Have you seen the simulation of temperature distribution in the link sorindafabico provided? I would even say this is more important than New Horizons reaching Pluto.
 

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If it were confirmed to be Earth-like. It is not even confirmed whether it has an atmosphere or not.
 

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If it were confirmed to be Earth-like. It is not even confirmed whether it has an atmosphere or not.

It seems to have liquid water or at least a high chance of it. Which means a minimal atmosphere is realistic. Must not mean the atmosphere is the same as on Earth, which is the product of life messing with it.
 

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Given how close it is, I'm quite sure we can study it in relative detail remotely in the next few decades. Also, some radio eaves-dropping might be useful.
 
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