ASU: Is Tau Ceti the Next Earth? Probably Not.

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ASU: Is Tau Ceti the Next Earth? Probably Not.

Post by bystander » Thu Apr 23, 2015 1:39 am

Tau Ceti: The next Earth? Probably not.
Arizona State University | SESE | 2015 Apr 22

The list of potential life-supporting planets just got a little shorter
[attachment=0]150422142501-large.jpg[/attachment]

As the search continues for Earth-size planets orbiting at just the right distance from their star, a region termed the habitable zone, the number of potentially life-supporting planets grows. In two decades we have progressed from having no extrasolar planets to having too many to search. Narrowing the list of hopefuls requires looking at extrasolar planets in a new way. Applying a nuanced approach that couples astronomy and geophysics, Arizona State University researchers report that from that long list we can cross off cosmic neighbor Tau Ceti.

The Tau Ceti system, popularized in several fictional works, including Star Trek, has long been used in science fiction, and even popular news, as a very likely place to have life due to its proximity to Earth and the star’s sun-like characteristics. Since December 2012 Tau Ceti has become even more appealing, thanks to evidence of possibly five planets orbiting it, with two of these – Tau Ceti e and f – potentially residing in the habitable zone.

Using the chemical composition of Tau Ceti, the ASU team modeled the star’s evolution and calculated its habitable zone. Although their data confirms that two planets (e and f) may be in the habitable zone it doesn’t mean life flourishes or even exists there. ...

The Chemical Composition of τ Ceti and Possible Effects on Terrestrial Planets - Michael Pagano, et al
http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php? ... 84#p233484
http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?t=30395
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How would an alien world like this look? That's the question that ASU under-<br />graduate art major Joshua Gonzalez attempted to answer. He worked with <br />Professor Patrick Young's group to learn how to analyze stellar spectra to <br />find chemical abundances, and inspired by the scientific results, he created <br />two digital paintings of possible unusual extrasolar planets, one being <br />Tau Ceti for his Barrett Honors Thesis. (Credit: Joshua Gonzalez)
How would an alien world like this look? That's the question that ASU under-
graduate art major Joshua Gonzalez attempted to answer. He worked with
Professor Patrick Young's group to learn how to analyze stellar spectra to
find chemical abundances, and inspired by the scientific results, he created
two digital paintings of possible unusual extrasolar planets, one being
Tau Ceti for his Barrett Honors Thesis. (Credit: Joshua Gonzalez)
Know the quiet place within your heart and touch the rainbow of possibility; be
alive to the gentle breeze of communication, and please stop being such a jerk.
— Garrison Keillor

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