Shortlist of Possible ET Addresses

An anonymous reader writes "Yahoo News is reporting that Astronomer Margaret Turnbull of the Carnegie Institution has released a 'top 10' list of potential inhabitable star systems. NASA is planning on using this top 10 list as the targets for their Terrestrial Planet Finder a 'system of two orbiting observatories scheduled for launch by 2020.'"

Comments

Terrestrial Planet Finder has been cancelled...

[thue]

The Terrestrial Planet Finder has been cancelled:
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1092
So this list seems redundant. To bad, as it was NASA's most exciting project IMO.

But there is still ESA's Darwin, an essentially identical project, which is still scheduled for a 2015 launch as far as I am aware.

hmmm

[smash]

Apparently some systems were "tossed out" because they aren't stable enough (variable stars, strong gravity, etc).

Now, is it just me, or does the idea that life may well need some abnormal event to kick-start it in conflict with that very idea?

Perhaps include *some* of these systems?

smash.

Locating Greener Pastures

[sanman2]

This search for 'habstars' (habitable star systems) is really fascinating, and perhaps even practical in an offhanded way. What better way to inspire future astronomers and astrophysicists than to find some beautiful blue-green jewel like ours out there, even if we can't detect signs of intelligent life.

This would be a lot more motivating and captivating than scanning the heavens for shapes of creatures from mythology, which is no better than looking for pictures of Jesus or the Virgin Mary in a cheese sandwich.

Once we find something out there worth travelling to, then it would automatically spur thoughts of developing means to get there. Even if such dreams aren't possible due to the limits of known physics, it's still a noble and instinctive goal, like our grazing ancestors had in seeking greener pastures. Who knows where such thoughts might ultimatley lead?

Best part of the whole thing is...

[deolaudamus]

This "listing," "research," and "entire project" is all just for show...we've actually been travelling the galaxy to other habitable (and inhabited) planets from a secure facility inside Cheyenne Mountain--kinda surprised nobody mentioned that already! In fact, we've made friends with several other worlds and they joined our fight and helped us defeat a race of nasty snaky guys! Oh, and if anyone wielding a creepy glowing staff promises you candy for reading his book on Origin, run FAST. Sheesh...old news what?