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SETI scientists are taking notice of the latest discovery of a “Super-Earth” beyond the solar system as they fine-tune their list of stars to target in their search for extraterrestrial intelligence. With the recent announcement of a planet seven to eight times the Earth’s mass circling an M dwarf star, the chances for habitable worlds seem greater than ever. “It may well be that there are far more habitable planets orbiting M dwarfs than orbiting all other types of stars combined,” explained Frank Drake, the Director of the SETI Institute’s Center for the Study of Life in the Universe.
“This is really exciting news for those interested in life beyond Earth,” said Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute, commenting on the discovery of a planet around Gleise 876, a small, red M star located just 15 light years from Earth. “To begin with, it’s at least a tentative indication that small planets – those more or less the same heft as our own world – might be commonplace. Secondly, it’s proof that dim, little M dwarf stars, which are roughly eight times as plentiful as stars like the Sun, can also host rocky planets.”
space.com/searchforlife/seti_newplanet_050616.html
“This is really exciting news for those interested in life beyond Earth,” said Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute, commenting on the discovery of a planet around Gleise 876, a small, red M star located just 15 light years from Earth. “To begin with, it’s at least a tentative indication that small planets – those more or less the same heft as our own world – might be commonplace. Secondly, it’s proof that dim, little M dwarf stars, which are roughly eight times as plentiful as stars like the Sun, can also host rocky planets.”
space.com/searchforlife/seti_newplanet_050616.html