[SCIENCE] Planet with Liquid Water discovered 40 LY From Earth

**Tarminic** · February 23 2012, 03:53:42 PM

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/891028-n...pport-new-life

New 'water world' planet GJ1214b discovered that could support new life

The new discovery is a super-Earth 2.7 times bigger than our planet, orbiting a red-dwarf star at a distance of two million kilometres.

It was initially observed in 2009, with astronomers believing that the gas around the planet may be a haze similar to the one seen on titan, one of Saturn's moons.

However, after further examination with the Hubble telescope, scientists established the make-up of GJ1214b is water-based, leaving them scratching their heads.

'GJ1214b is like no planet we know of. A huge fraction of its mass is made up of water,' said Zachory Berta, lead author of the study from the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Its proximity to the star it orbits suggests temperatures there could reach 200 degrees C, which combined with the presence of water could result in life developing.

'The high temperatures and pressures would form exotic materials like "hot ice" or "superfluid water", substances that are completely alien to our everyday experience,' Mr Berta added.

Astronomers have never previously discovered a water-based planet, only ones made from rock, gas or in the case of Uranus and Neptune, ice.

More information on the planet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GJ1214b

I really hope that I can live long enough that we construct telescopes powerful enough to get a visual on some of these planets.

**Joshua Foiritain** · February 23 2012, 03:55:40 PM

I for one welcome our new space octopus overlords.

**Tarminic** · February 23 2012, 04:00:41 PM

Originally Posted by Joshua Foiritain

I for one welcome our new space octopus overlords.

I think they'd find Earth's oceans a bit too cold for their liking. Average temperature on the planet is estimated at somewhere between 250 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The water is liquid due to the atmospheric pressure.

**DevilDude** · February 23 2012, 04:08:18 PM

well if we're any indication that just means they'll try to cover our planet miles deep in water and heat it up somehow.

**Joshua Foiritain** · February 23 2012, 04:09:05 PM

Originally Posted by Tarminic

Originally Posted by Joshua Foiritain

I for one welcome our new space octopus overlords.

I think they'd find Earth's oceans a bit too cold for their liking. Average temperature on the planet is estimated at somewhere between 250 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The water is liquid due to the atmospheric pressure.

Id imagine anyone capable of travelling 40 LY in a reasonable amount of time could overcome that obstacle. :P

or alternatively; GIANT ROBOT OCTOPUS SUITS ARE GO.

**NoirAvlaa** · February 23 2012, 04:09:34 PM

Originally Posted by Tarminic

Originally Posted by Joshua Foiritain

I for one welcome our new space octopus overlords.

I think they'd find Earth's oceans a bit too cold for their liking. Average temperature on the planet is estimated at somewhere between 250 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The water is liquid due to the atmospheric pressure.

What's that in Celsius?

**Tarminic** · February 23 2012, 04:10:41 PM

Originally Posted by NoirAvlaa

Originally Posted by Tarminic

Originally Posted by Joshua Foiritain

I for one welcome our new space octopus overlords.

I think they'd find Earth's oceans a bit too cold for their liking. Average temperature on the planet is estimated at somewhere between 250 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The water is liquid due to the atmospheric pressure.

What's that in Celsius?

120-282 degrees Celsius.

**Joshua Foiritain** · February 23 2012, 04:10:52 PM

Originally Posted by NoirAvlaa

Originally Posted by Tarminic

Originally Posted by Joshua Foiritain

I for one welcome our new space octopus overlords.

I think they'd find Earth's oceans a bit too cold for their liking. Average temperature on the planet is estimated at somewhere between 250 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The water is liquid due to the atmospheric pressure.

What's that in Celsius?

Roughly 121c to 260c.

**CastleBravo** · February 23 2012, 04:15:54 PM

So how the fuck are we supposed to boil and eat them, with an autoclave?

**Joshua Foiritain** · February 23 2012, 04:17:14 PM

Freeze them and use as icecream?

**Aramendel** · February 23 2012, 04:17:38 PM

The even more interesting part is IMO that most of that planet consists out of water. It's not like earth which is mostly rock with a thin water layer on it. It's the first planet like this we found.

**punkboy101** · February 23 2012, 04:37:00 PM

Originally Posted by Tarminic

I really hope that I can live long enough that we construct telescopes powerful enough to get a visual on some of these planets.

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Also, hurry the fuck up science dudes and develop FTL travel so I can go see some of this amazing stuff myself while looking for new and exotic lifeforms.

**lubica** · February 23 2012, 04:42:47 PM

Originally Posted by punkboy101

Originally Posted by Tarminic

I really hope that I can live long enough that we construct telescopes powerful enough to get a visual on some of these planets.

CCC
C
CCC

Also, hurry the fuck up science dudes and develop FTL travel so I can go see some of this amazing stuff myself while looking for new and exotic lifeforms.

In the meantime, we just have to make do with Star Trek Online