Gliese 581g: First Earth-sized planet discovered around a star's habitable zone

Earlier this week, astronomers from University of California in Santa Cruz announced the discovery of an Earth-sized world in a very promising spot around the red-dwarf star known as Gliese 581. It seems to be orbiting in that star's habitable zone.

Watch this vid for the complete announcement:

Also Space Fans: Please use the new moderator thingy on my channel to vote on video ideas.

[ThreeQuartersCrazed]

I read on wikipedia that this planet is probably tidally locked with the star, so the sun-side will be very hot and the night-side will be very cold. Somewhere in between, then, should be a zone along the terminator where the temperature is comfortable. But, questions remain about whether there really is water on the planet, is the atmosphere toxic, etc. Read the wiki article for more info.

[AmyK]

Your videos are excellent. No matter what you do I will love it.

[novelist]

i think this is one of the most exciting discoveries in astronomy in recent memory.

[BrickUnit]

lady in the car behind is like "omg this guy is soo bored he is talking to himself"

[TealeBritstra]

@horny4bears indeed - there are a few programs underway to that end already. It's just a personal thing I have against the idea of putting a boundary on the extent of where liquid water might be found. And it's one Jovian and one Saturnian moon that I mentioned :-)

[cecasander]

I also heard that this planet (Gliese 581 g?) was in a tidal lock with the star so that it had a permanent hot/light and cool/dark side, which would prevent the forming of a stable atmosphere. But wouldn't the theory that it's in the goldilocks zone also mean it's far away enough not to be tidal locked, as the star is smaller and thus has less gravity? Mercury and Venus are relatively closer to the sun (outside the goldilocks zone) yet they aren't tidal locked.

[Destro]

They've shown a CGi image of it with trees and things, haha that's a bit presumptuous isn't it? :D

I like your videos, dude, you seem to really be able to speak out loud about Astronomy quite well.

[eviemire]

"liquid water can be present from that star, and... blahblahrublefloop" - A life changing quote from Tony Darnell

[ProElite]

@546046 it probobly got water if it got good temperatur but what the problem is, is that the atmosphere needs to have good gases that are not poisinous from creatures

[cellofingers]

I would like to see a episode done about searching for possible signs of life on Saturn's moon Enceladus with its geysers versus going to Europa and trying to drill 15 Km through solid sheets of ice. On Enceladus we already have pathways through those geysers into the tidal ocean below. Presumably already warm through the constant torque on the moon by the gravity of Saturn. Anyway new fan and think this series on space is the best on YouTube. Keep up the superb work!

[rextrek]

I hate traffic...thats where "Transporters"would come in handy! Love your channel

[chromatic]

They say don't speak in a phone while driving, but they never said anything about recording videos about the discovery and information about the Gilese 581g, do they?

[watkinstech]

Hey, I just realized where you were.
You were driving south on Richie Hwy through Severna Park

[mime]

It maybe earth sized.
It may be within the habitable zone.
But multiple factors go into supporting the planets life.
We are still DISCOVERING those factors.

[SwerixOfficial]

@546046 you dont have to be only in the habitable zone. you can be in it but orbit on the edge. and the planet would freeze. YOU NEED to be in the middle of the zone to have life on a planet

[zcxvasdfqwer]

Oh its home! All that green! I'm stuck in the western desert for a bit. Can't wait to go back once I saw that sign "Baltimore"

[waltermh]

@BaKer312213 i think they mean habitable to life, not necessarily our life.
We are interested in other species, knowing we cant reach that planet even if we wanted to.

[hornybears]

@ferrett78 *nods* this is just the most easiest means for that search. They havn't stopped or given up any of your points, still think they'll be having a probe attempt to burrow away on one of the moons of Jupiter was it, or Saturn, where evidence for gysers of waters and a active ice sheet has been noted to take place upon.

[Tarlev]

@546046 If you think of the theory about how water ended up on earth, then the same theory should be possible at that solar system.. Brought by comets and asteroids that is.

The problem with Gliese 581g, is that its star as mentioned is a red dwarf and much cooler.. Which results in continuesly minus degrees, so all water that could be there, will be frozen solid.. So whatever life that might be there will be, its very primitive at best.

[halakar]

@ReasonGuysCopyright Yes, Gilese 581 g is orbiting a red dwarf.