Nearby Star Has 3 Potentially Habitable Planets | Gliese 667C | ESO Space Science HD
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Visit my website at http://www.junglejoel.com - Gliese 667C is part of a triple star system, which also includes the stars Gliese 667A and Gliese 667B. This star system is relatively near to Earth at only 22 light-years away in the constellation of Scorpius.
At least six, and possibly seven planets have recently been found to orbit Gliese 667C, with three of them orbiting in the star's habitable zone. This is the zone around a star where liquid water could potentially exist on a rocky planet like Earth. Planets orbiting within a star's habitable zone could potentially be Earthlike, and support life.
The three planets orbiting within Gliese 667C's habitable zone are all classified as "super-Earths," larger than Earth, but smaller than the planet Neptune in our own solar system. Because Gliese 667C is smaller and dimmer than our sun, it's habitable zone is also smaller than the zone around our sun - yet with three super-Earths packed inside.
The above video shows the arrangement of planets in the Gliese 667C solar system, then shows a hypothetical view from the exoplanet labeled as "d," which orbits just outside the habitable zone. The three stars are all easily visible, as well as a crescent planet "e."
Astronomers used data from HARPS at ESO's 3.6 meter telescope in Chile, combined with new observations of Gliese 667C, to reveal a star system with at least six (possibly seven) planets.
Please rate and comment, thanks!
Image Credits:
ESO, M.Kornmesser, Rory Barnes
Music:
-Space Boy
"Heartbeat of the Cosmos"
At least six, and possibly seven planets have recently been found to orbit Gliese 667C, with three of them orbiting in the star's habitable zone. This is the zone around a star where liquid water could potentially exist on a rocky planet like Earth. Planets orbiting within a star's habitable zone could potentially be Earthlike, and support life.
The three planets orbiting within Gliese 667C's habitable zone are all classified as "super-Earths," larger than Earth, but smaller than the planet Neptune in our own solar system. Because Gliese 667C is smaller and dimmer than our sun, it's habitable zone is also smaller than the zone around our sun - yet with three super-Earths packed inside.
The above video shows the arrangement of planets in the Gliese 667C solar system, then shows a hypothetical view from the exoplanet labeled as "d," which orbits just outside the habitable zone. The three stars are all easily visible, as well as a crescent planet "e."
Astronomers used data from HARPS at ESO's 3.6 meter telescope in Chile, combined with new observations of Gliese 667C, to reveal a star system with at least six (possibly seven) planets.
Please rate and comment, thanks!
Image Credits:
ESO, M.Kornmesser, Rory Barnes
Music:
-Space Boy
"Heartbeat of the Cosmos"
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