Potential 'Avatar' Gas Giant Exoplanet Discovered

Luminary Crush writes "A gas giant of approximately 1.5 Mj (Jupiter Mass) was discovered on October 22nd around the binary star system HD 176051B. It's not known with certainty which component of the binary system the planet is in orbit around at this point as both stars in HD 176051B are relatively Sol-sized (1.07 and .71 solar masses). Named 176051B b, this new exoplanet orbits within the star system's habitable zone, and if mapped onto our solar system with relative distance from our Sun it would place the large planet between Earth and Mars. While it's unlikely that such a gas giant could host life as we know it (though it's hypothesized), the location of the big planet opens up the intriguing idea of the realization of some of science fiction's famously habitable moons, Pandora and Endor. Look no further than our own solar system to see moons with the potential ingredients for life — just add heat."

Comments

Such stories are frustrating

[pablo_max]

I find it frustrating that at our current rate of investment toward space exploration and science in general that I, most likely will never know the answer within my lifetime.
My father recalls as a child it was assumed we would all have experienced the glory of space travel by now.

Still, any news like this is good news. Perhaps it gives hope to the future generations whereby causing them to make an investment in mankind's future.

But does it...

[Galestar]

have unobtanium?