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A Third of Sun-Like Stars May Have Warm Earth Analogs

Posted by timothy on from the where-do-you-think-the-off-world-colonies-are? dept.

The Bad Astronomer writes "An astronomer studying data from the first 136 days of the Kepler observatory missions has calculated that as many as 34% of all Sun-like stars (abstract) may have Earth-sized planets orbiting in their habitable zones, where conditions are right for life as we know it. I have some reservations with his numbers, but they do match other studies. There may be 15 billion warm, Earth-sized worlds in our galaxy alone."

2 of 188 comments (clear)

  1. 15 billion, but 0 within reach by G3ckoG33k · · Score: 2, Informative

    15 billion, but 0 within reach... So much for that info.

  2. Re:Liquid Water by mooingyak · · Score: 3, Informative

    That's the whole "as we know it" part.

    It's not that anyone thinks its impossible for life to from under other conditions, but that we do know of one set of conditions that worked. Plus, I always thought habitable meant habitable for humans.

    --
    William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.