Number of habitable planets changes to 4

Here comes one more planet into the category of potentially habitable planets. This is the reult of work done by the European Southern Observatory which they named as GJ667C. The observations say it should be at a distance of 22 light years. Let me remind you the first three on the occasion of the discovery of this planet. 1st one found is Gliese 581d, the 2nd one is HD85512b by Swiss astronomers and the 3rd is Kepler 22b by NASA.

Well these are the conclusions that could be drawn basing upon the observations made on that planet. 

1.             coming to our present GJ 667C planet, it is observed to be revolving around its starevery 28.15 days which indicates the shorter size of the star when compared to the Sun.
2. It is estimated to be about 22 light years away from the earth which is not so much when compared to the distances of the previously discovered 3 planets.
3. It has a mass of 4.5 times that of the earth.
4. Observations doubt it as a 3-star system in which the other 2 planets orbiting our star of concern might be a super earth and a gas giant.
5. The percentage of heavier elements is very low when compared to those of the earth's. but astronomers back up this under the shadow of "metal-poor" example types of stars. Lets see if this is the correct reason underlying or just a back up.

With these conclusions, the research will be continued in the coming days going to the deeper depths of each and every observation. Stay glued to get more updates on this 4th discovered habitable planet. who knows if this planet may become our future accommodating planet. Signing off for today yours Pranu :)


Ref: Economic times, Astronomy now
Date: 02-02-2012