Gliese 581, lies in the constellation of Libra and is among the 100 closest stars to the Sun. Giliese 581 B was only discovered two years ago and is a planet much like Neptune, then we have Gliese 581 D but the excitement is about a new planet, as of yet has no name but has being designated Gliese 581 C.
This new planet which is 20.5 light years away, orbits a region with the right temperature to allow liquid water on its surface.
The planet inhabits the habitable zone of its parent star, Gliese 581 and falls into the parameters of a narrow orbit in which temperatures are not too hot, not too cold, but just right for surface water to exist as a liquid. This is still a bone of contention as scientists maintain that liquid water is one of the pre-requisites for life as we know it on Earth. But is this only because they have yet to discover a different life-form?
Anyway back to Gliese 581 C, as with all planets the habitable zone varies according to the heat output of the star, and Gliese 581 is much smaller and colder than the Sun. It is 14 times closer to the star than the Earth is to the Sun, it lies in a region where rivers, lakes and oceans are possible.
The European astronomers who discovered it have estimated that the temperature of this planet to fall between zero and 40 degrees Celsius, and this would mean that water would be in a liquid form. They also predict that its radius should be only 1.5 times the Earth’s radius, and models predict that the planet should be either rocky similar to our Earth or alternatively it could be covered with oceans.
Nearly all of the discovered planets so far are giant gaseous worlds the size of Jupiter or bigger. This leads scientists to believe that life could not exist on these planets. But the new planet is highly unusual because it is so small, and therefore probably rocky. Given its size and location, it is also likely to have an atmosphere.
They found it by studying stars to see if they wobble, they maintain that this pronounced wobble is caused by the gravity of a large object orbiting it. Then by measuring the wobble, the astronomers can calculate a planet’s orbit and mass.
By 2020 a space telescope should be in orbit with the capability of detecting signs of life on planets light years from Earth.
Scientists have calculated the planet has double Earth’s gravity. Any creatures living there would therefore be twice as heavy and their bodies would probably reflect this.
The "sun" wouldn't burn brightly. It would hang close, large and red in the sky. Scientists and astronomers both say it’s now the first potentially habitable planet besides Earth or Mars.
British bookmakers William Hill lowered its odds on Wednesday from 1000/1 to 100/1 in the wake of the astronomical discovery, which was announced Tuesday.
The results of the discovery have not been published but have been submitted to the journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
William Hill has taken on many seemingly outlandish bets over past 50 years, some of which have resulted in big payouts. Just the day before this announcement they had to pay out £25,000 after offering odds of 250/1 to a 90 year old pensioner that he would make 100 years old. They paid out yesterday and announced that anyone wishing to make the same bet today would probably receive about 10/1 at best!!
In the early 1960s the bookmaker offered odds of 1000/1 that man would walk on the moon before 1970, and was forced to pay the equivalent of 1 million pounds to its customers.
But just like snow falling on the met-centre before the alien wager is paid out, the Prime Minister must officially confirm the existence of intelligent extra-terrestrial life within a year of the bet being placed.
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