09-14-2018, 04:51 PM
(09-14-2018, 04:11 PM)MegaphoneStallone Wrote: I got excited about Gliese 581c, so I had a look-see to find it's just outside it's local Goldilocks zone.
I don't think that's a death knell for the hopes of life on that planet, though. After all, Europa and Enceladus are both well outside the Sun's Goldilocks zone, and yet, they're prime locations in the search for life (due to the oceans which are believed to exist underneath their icy surfaces).
Although, in the case of Gliese 581c, it's tidally locked (so, one side is constantly facing its sun, while the other side is always facing away and in constant darkness). This means that any life would likely be found either underneath the 'dark' half of the planet, or in the narrow band where the 'light' and 'dark' halves meet (also known as the planet's "Terminator Zone").
But, even if Gliese 581c doesn't harbour life, it's not the only planet in that system . Gliese 581d and Gliese 581g are both inside the Goldilocks zone (although, the existence of the latter planet is currently unconfirmed).
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