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Possible Habitable Planet Just 12 Light Years Away

Posted by Soulskill on from the dibs-on-the-oil dept.

sciencehabit writes "Astronomers have discovered what may be five planets orbiting Tau Ceti, the closest single star beyond our solar system whose temperature and luminosity nearly match the sun's. If the planets are there, one of them is about the right distance from the star to sport mild temperatures, oceans of liquid water, and even life (paper)."

8 of 420 comments (clear)

  1. Where's the queue? by eltardo · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've got my own helmet. Where do I sign up?

    --
    plop
    1. Re:Where's the queue? by valentinas · · Score: 5, Funny

      Helmet? What about a towel?

    2. Re:Where's the queue? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Who is much?

    3. Re:Where's the queue? by Grayhand · · Score: 5, Funny

      Helmet? What about a towel?

      So you're planning to hitchhike to Tau Ceti? You do know it's off season and the hotel rates are insane? You don't even want to know what a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster will set you back.

  2. Re:"JUST" 12 light years? LOL. by Chrutil · · Score: 5, Funny

    Could you get more by slingshotting around the sun?

    Yeah, but you'll end up in San Francisco in 1986 so it won't do you any good.

  3. Re:It goes the other way, too by cervesaebraciator · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why would you put the people in charge on the second bus?

  4. Re:It goes the other way, too by kenj0418 · · Score: 5, Funny

    it was determined that at TV frequencies the Earth was the brightest (known) object in the galaxy.

    That is until they learn to decode the signals. Then they will stop thinking we are bright.

  5. Re:It goes the other way, too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So basically it is like high school dating on a galactic scale?