Astronomers believe super-Earths are the most abundant planets in our galaxy. The term describes any world heavier than Earth but not as massive as gas giants like Saturn and Jupiter.
Astronomers believe super-Earths are the most abundant planets in our galaxy. The term describes any world heavier than Earth but not as massive as gas giants like Saturn and Jupiter.
"All the microwaves coming down from space would have been absorbed by clouds or water vapour in the atmosphere before they reached our instruments. That is why we picked Chajnantor," says astronomer Dr. Murdin.
Chajnantor's receivers will be built specifically to collect this precious microwave radiation and help astronomers understand one of science's last major cosmological mysteries: the structured, solid nature of the cosmos.
"We want to know how a hot, fluid universe turned into one with galaxies and stars and planets and continents and. eventually, people," says UK astronomer Dr Paul Murdin.
When completed, these machines will allow the world's astronomers to view the birth of thousands of planetary systems in the deepest recesses of our galaxy.
Astronomers suggest that many rocky planets are likely to be found in habitable zones during the coming years, and some of these will provide a better platform for research with current instruments.
Another way to gather information would be to transport a vessel to and from the planet. The technology exists to do this, but at 20 light years from the Earth, it would take 200 years for astronomers to receive the result.
Gliese 581 is one of just nine stars at that particular distance which astronomers have searched with high enough precision to uncover a planet in the habitable zone.
Astronomers estimate that average temperatures on Gliese 581g's star side would be about 71°C and average temperatures on the other much chillier: -34°C.
Planets that orbit too close to or too far away from their stars do not have a suitable climate; this can only be found in a slender strip of solar space around each star known to astronomers as a 'habitable zone'.
Steven Vogt - one of the two astronomers credited with discovering Gliese 581g - has declared that 'the chances of life on this planet are 100 per cent' and that he has 'almost no doubt about it'.
More recently, scientists have joined in on the collective wonderment after the first discovery by astronomers of a new planet - Gliese 581g - that could almost certainly support extra-terrestrial organisms.
Astronomer David Field of the University of Aarhus says, "The fainter the galaxy, the more distant it is. And given that light travels at a finite speed, faint galaxies are also the oldest."
But why bother? Given that the night sky is full of bright galaxies, why do astronomers build telescopes manufactured to a billionth of a metre accuracy, just to see faint ones? The answer is about looking back in time.
A US-British team of astronomers discovered a planet 1,200 light-years away with ultra-high concentrations of carbon. This supports the idea that it could have mountains made up of diamonds.
Like all comets, Hale-Bopp normally carries a long trail of debris, but as it moves further from the Sun astronomers have noted that its slovenly behavior has tapered off.
Like all comets, Hale-Bopp normally carries a long trail of debris, but as it moves further from the Sun astronomers have noted that its slovenly behavior has tapered off.
Using the Gemini Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, a team of astronomers calculated the black hole’s mass, which is vastly larger than the black hole in the center of the Milky Way.
A US-British team of astronomers discovered a planet 1,200 light years away with ultra-high concentrations of carbon. This supports the idea that it could have mountains made up of diamonds.
A US-British team of astronomers discovered a planet 1,200 light-years away with ultra-high concentrations of carbon. This supports the idea that it could have mountains made up of diamonds.
Using the Gemini Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, a team of astronomers calculated the black hole’s mass, which is vastly larger than the black hole in the center of the Milky Way.
Using the Gemini Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, a team of astronomers calculated the black hole’s mass, which is vastly larger than the black hole in the center of the Milky Way.
Using the Gemini Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, a team of astronomers calculated the black hole’s mass, which is vastly larger than the black hole in the center of the Milky Way.