Environment (Space)

Have you ever gotten the feeling that we, the life forms on Earth, may not be the only ones around? Do you think that there are other life forms like us somewhere in space? Well there is a possibility that there are other life forms outside of Earth because of recent discoveries of some possibly habitable exoplanets. Astronomers have created a list of possibly habitable planets for the space satellite “Transiting Exoplanet Survey” to discover. This satellite was launched into space in April of 2018. NASA’s Kepler space telescope has also been a great use to discovering planets, and it has found about 70% of our known 4,000 exoplanets. Some exoplanets that astronomers have found to be possibly habitable are Gliese 667 Cc, Kepler-452b, and Luyten b. Gliese 667 Cc is an exoplanet that orbits the red dwarf star Gliese C, a member of a triple star solar system, and was found in the Scorpius constellation. Kepler-452b was found orbiting the Sun-like star Kepler-452 in the constellation Cygnus. Luyten b is an exoplanet that orbits the red dwarf called Luyten’s Star. In 2012, astronomers apart of the organization METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence) sent a message that contain multiple music compositions as well as a scientific tutorial toward the exoplanet Luyten b in hopes of getting in contact with possible extraterrestrial civilizations. Each of these exoplanets were found in the habitable zone of their star’s orbit, which is why they are most likely habitable. (Luyten b) Astronomers have made many more amazing discoveries involving unique exoplanets. For example, in 2009, astronomers discovered what they believe to be a “water world” called Gliese 1214b. This planet was found orbiting the star Gliese 1214 in the constellation Ophiuchus, and is believed to have a surface made up of water! Another unique planet is 55 Cancri e, discovered in 2004 around a near-by star in our galaxy. What makes this planet so unique is that it is believed to be made entirely of diamonds! Astronomers believe that at least a third of the planet’s mass is pure diamond. (Gliese 1214b)