Okay, I have a background in astronomy, so my sense of what the common perception of things is is skewed, but did people actually think that "potentially habitable planet" mean a place you would visit on vacation? All of the accounts I've read have made a point of saying that they are 2-5 times the mass of Earth, and while we have no idea what kind of atmosphere it would have, would very likely not be compatible with us, because we evolved very specifically for our atmosphere.

nmrsnr: Okay, I have a background in astronomy, so my sense of what the common perception of things is is skewed, but did people actually think that "potentially habitable planet" mean a place you would visit on vacation? All of the accounts I've read have made a point of saying that they are 2-5 times the mass of Earth, and while we have no idea what kind of atmosphere it would have, would very likely not be compatible with us, because we evolved very specifically for our atmosphere.

Darn. And I was just gonna make a snarky comment about scientific process and pop astronomy, and you have to go throwing facts and shiat around. :P

Class M is like Risa and Earth but Classes L and K are also habital by Earthlike beings.

NO WAY!

I have no background in astronomy (except for occasionally reading the bad astronomy blog), and i assumed they mean rocky planet, not a gas giant or liquid methane planet. Either way it's still cool that they can find these things, given the vast emptiness of space.

/dnrtfa

You mean science journalism is pandering bullshiat? Ya don't say.

Well, we found one so far.  So we know it's possible.

doglover: You mean science journalism is pandering bullshiat? Ya don't say.

That's the thing, it's not (always). The stuff I've read about exoplanets has always been pretty good, "we've found such and such a planet with a mass X times that of Earth in the host star's 'habitable zone,' meaning there could be liquid water on its surface." And that's about it, if that gives the impression of a balmy ocean resort planet I don't really see how (but then again, I'm not the salt of the earth, the common clay... etc.). So the question now is: is this really a misperception that people have, or is it a mistake the journalist made up so that he can sound smart by correcting it?

300B galaxies and this is the only planet that supports life. what more proof of god do you need?

nmrsnr: So the question now is: is this really a misperception that people have, or is it a mistake the journalist made up so that he can sound smart by correcting it?

It's a misconception science journalists have that they're the only ones who can report on science. Really they're basically the last people who should be doing that.

Scientists and engineers are inarticulate, but accurate. They mince words. Once you figure out what they're saying, it's dull as hell but precise. "We have found X planets in the 'potentially habitable zone' across Y systems using the OO technique this year." Not exactly thrilling stuff, but it's the truth.

Take science journalists, people who think they know more than the readership, and they try to Romero it up. Earth-like planets (picture of a jungle) God Particle (atom superimposed on a cross) Weapons Grade Plutonium (used frequently in peaceful space probes) They just gunk it all up and try to make it more exciting, which never works. Remember all the people who tried to make things more exciting than they were when you were a kid? Remember how awful that was for you when they failed? That's what articles that use terms like "Earth-like" for things we've only detected a mass and temperature range and atmosphere for are like. They're your new parents trying to get you to eat your stewed vegetables by making airplane sounds when clearly the spoon is not an airplane.

Well yeah, no shiat, Venus and Mars are "Earth like" planets, but you wouldnt want to live there.

Damn, I had my 3D printer all packed up, some energy bars and bottled water. I was sure that private space was going to get me, nay, the entire species, off this rock? There aren't hundreds of other mud balls out there within easy reach, like so many Walmarts packed with stuff?

You mean low earth orbit is *it* for the richest people on Earth, and the rest of us will just have to somehow survive on this rock?

Oh no!

Cyno01: Well yeah, no shiat, Venus and Mars are "Earth like" planets, but you wouldnt want to live there.

Mars certainly ain't no kind of place to raise your kids.

Quantum Apostrophe: Damn, I had my 3D printer all packed up, some energy bars and bottled water. I was sure that private space was going to get me, nay, the entire species, off this rock? There aren't hundreds of other mud balls out there within easy reach, like so many Walmarts packed with stuff?

You mean low earth orbit is *it* for the richest people on Earth, and the rest of us will just have to somehow survive on this rock?

Oh no!

Damn it... I was so excited that we might have had a conversation without your lame-ass bevets-bot, tired, repetitive, trite, predictable and utterly useless postings showing up.

Maybe next time.

SpikeStrip: 300B galaxies and this is the only planet that supports life. what more proof of god do you need?

Seems like a huge waste of space if we are the only planet with life in all of the universe.

Mad_Radhu: Cyno01: Well yeah, no shiat, Venus and Mars are "Earth like" planets, but you wouldnt want to live there.

Mars certainly ain't no kind of place to raise your kids.

it's cold as hell

Cyno01: Well yeah, no shiat, Venus and Mars are "Earth like" planets, but you wouldnt want to live there.

OhioKnight: THANK YOU!!!
May I suggest that a less-hopeful but identical term would be "Venus-like"
or we could talk about discovering "Super-Venuses" (Veni???)

Venus isn't in the habitable zone.

Dingleberry Dickwad: Oh no, life extension is not possible. You see, we don't live longer than before, we aren't born in hospitals, we don't vaccinate our young or use antibiotics, or have indoor plumbing, sanitation, clean tap water and hygiene.

Living longer than before? Ridiculous! All that stuff is magic!

/Do you seriously not realize how inane you sound?
//germ theory, cancer cures, etc...
///Terry Fox would be alive today. But we don't live longer than before, because it's magic
////When's the last time you knew someone who died of polio, scarlet fever, whooping cough, measles... Nope, magic. Space is where it's at.

So, if they are "Earth-like" does that mean Class "M".  And does that mean Roddenberries?  Cause those are delicious.

T-Boy: Why don't we just send some people to some of these planets and they can report back whether they are habitable

That's an excellent idea. Similar to sending chimps into space to test survivability. Start with Quantum Apostrophe, he's already packed.

So, is the obvious tag, lost in intergalactic space?

Makh: Well, we found one so far.  So we know it's possible.

the whole thing?

the maximum speed of my buick century is only 102 mph so it would take at least 200 years to reach the nearest aliens so what the shiat do i care about outer space