Scientist Picks a Gem of a Star

UrgleHoth writes "According to a CNN report, the star Gem 37 is the most likely candidate for alien life. Astrobiologist Maggie Turnbull of the University of Arizona in Tuscon has taken a list of most likely habitable planets and stars. Gem 37 topped the list. The deciding factor? 'Gem 37, the 37th brightest star in the constellation of Gemini, came out on top because it looks most like our sun.' This work was done for NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder."

Comments

Let's go back to the Drake Equation

[bill_mcgonigle]

"This stable, middle-aged star is just a bit hotter and brighter than our sun. And if alien life is anywhere, it's likely to be there," New Scientist magazine said on Wednesday.

It's important to have a suitable star, but that's only one term of the Drake Equation.

A less sensational quote might have been, "And if alien life is anywhere, it's possible that it's there."

37 Gem star images

[chongo]

My 37 Gemini page contains several images from the POSS2/UKSTU and the HST Phase 2 digital plate stacks.

Re:New Scientist Link to Original Article

[Anonymous Coward]

More in depth article from NASA