2007-07-13 10:34:17 · 6 answers · asked by Papa Johnathan 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
do you think there IS life on gliese 581 c?
2007-07-13 10:43:50 · update #1
Scoop! It's been found that 581c is too close in. The planet in the liquid-water range is the fourth planet, 581d.
2007-07-13 13:17:33 · answer #1 · answered by Choose a bloody best answer. It's not hard. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically Gliese 581 c is within the habitable zone of the star. However since the star is a variable red dwarf so it's possible that the planet occasionally gets bombarded with radiation. There are bacteria on Earth that survive inside nuclear reactors so this doesn't preclude the existence of life. I think there may be live on GJ 581 c but I think it is probably likley to be primitive. I doubt advance life could evolve around a variable star.
2007-07-13 10:44:14 · answer #2 · answered by April C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gliese 581 c is a "super-earth" extrasolar planet orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese 581. It appears to be the first terrestrial extrasolar planet discovered in the hypothetical habitable zone surrounding its star, where surface temperatures might maintain liquid water and therefore be suitable for life as known on Earth. The planet is astronomically close, at 20.5 light years from Earth in the direction of the constellation of Libra.
Gliese 581 c is the first extrasolar planet believed to have a surface temperature similar to that of Earth. It is the smallest extrasolar planet around a main sequence star discovered to date.
There may be life on this planet as the conditions are suitable for this but there is a difference between life and intelligent life. Will we be able to contact any life there? Any signal would take 20.5 years to get there and if the inhabitants were are a sufficient level of technology they may be able to decode it and sent a reply. That would take another 20.5 years to reach us. Its a long conversation when we have to wait 41 years for any reply!
Then we have the interesting speculations; What if they don't like us contacting them? What if they are so advanced they see us as we see our pets? What is they see us as their gods?
2007-07-13 10:58:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does it matter? It may become an issue for your great-grandchildren. We have yet to get a life-supporting vehicle to Mars, which is just a short distance away. Time enough to worry about life on Gliese 581 c when humanity is capable of exploring that far.
2007-07-13 10:43:52 · answer #4 · answered by Helmut 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, we've resorted to asking for an opinion poll on whether there's life on Gliese 581c.
And, if the opinion poll says there must be, then, I guess there must be.
Poof! Another of the universe's great mysteries ANSWERED by an opinion poll question.
2007-07-13 14:30:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Too soon to tell.
2007-07-13 10:49:36 · answer #6 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋