Amazing Discoveries: A Billion Earth-like Worlds

Laird M. Close, Professor, Astronomy/Steward Observatory
One of the most fascinating developments in the last two decades is humankind's discovery of alien worlds orbiting stars near our Sun. Since the first such discovery in 1995 there has been a truly exponential growth in the detection of these new planets. Scientists have been puzzled and surprised by the diversity and extravagance of these new extra-solar systems. For example, we now know the most common type of planet is actually missing from our own Solar System. Recently, the space-based NASA Kepler Mission has discovered thousands of new worlds and suggests that one in five Sun-like stars may harbor an Earth-like planet. We will take a grand tour of some of these amazing new worlds, specifically noting where life might already exist, beyond our Solar System. The latest developments and difficulties of direct imaging for life on an exoplanet will be discussed.

[stephenkirby]

In 1784, Immanuel Kant told us very succinctly what enlightenment is:

"Enlightenment is man's release from his self-incurred tutelage (immaturity). Tutelage (immaturity) is the incapacity to use one's own understanding without the guidance of another. Such tutelage (immaturity) is self-imposed if its cause is not lack of intelligence, but rather a lack of determination and courage to use one's intelligence without being guided by another."
Immanuel Kant, 1784 essay (What Is Enlightenment?)


This is ‘genius’ level work, enough said…
But...


“Only the descent into the hell of self-knowledge can pave the way to godliness.”
Immanuel Kant Metaphysics of Morals (1797)

Everything about this quote is ‘genius’ level except for two words, “hell”, and “godliness”, which hover down around the ‘stupid’ to ‘insane’ levels…

Now try this for a rewrite of the quote;

“Only the decent into the insanity of the ‘information masquerading as knowledge’, held within your subconscious mind, will lead you to the self-knowledge that can pave the way to individual human enlightenment.”
Stephen Kirby (2015)

I am an ‘everyman’... if I can do it... anyone can………………………………………..Aha

Stephen Kirby, Senior Program Designer, The Happier Project.
The Conscience-ness Recovery and Retention Center.
Genius-ness Recovery, Retention, and Utilization.
Conscience-ness Reawakening in a Conscience-less World.
Common Sense-ness in a World filled with Senseless-ness.

[michellebamm]

I was not a result of the big bang
Every human or animal and plants have such perfect systems to survive and live, breath and pro create

[peterg]

... computer graphics, algorithms, imagination, fascinating, 'unreal'.

[monicamattox]

many many "earthworlds"..in our galaxy..

[twstf]

It's not that, "Astronomers can't come up with really good names."

It's more like, Astronomers would prefer to not place an arbitrary language barrier between the students and the subject matter.

In almost every other scientific field, a student has to first learn the artificially complicated nomenclature, whether it's Greek or Latin, a derivative of either, or both, or just completely invented terminology altogether.

It places a sort of, "wall, " in the way of the education awaiting behind. And it's an extremely unfortunate thing, causing the subject matter to be essentially just out of reach for anyone hoping to learn anything more fundamental about their chosen field.

Astronomers, on the other hand, have traditionally used very basic and literal nomenclature for the objects and phenomena in their field. For example; spots on the Sun are called, "Sun Spots, " lol and that big red spot on Jupiter?

Yep, it's called, "Jupiter's big red spot."

What's the most fundamental molecule you'll learn about in biology class?
"Deoxyribonucleic Acid, " lol that's eleven syllables in just two words, or you can call it what most people call it; "DNA."

What's the most fundamental event in all of Astronomy?
"Big Bang."

See what I mean?

People shouldn't be scared away from learning about the subject they're passionate about by the terminology.

So, instead of looking at it like Astronomers are lazy or are just not as creative, people should know that this was done for a very specific and important reason;

So as to not turn people who would be otherwise interested in becoming Astronomers away because of the scary nomenclature standing in the way of their education. 👍

[julianabrown]

What kinda baby doesn't go somewhere cause of rain?

Also, liquid water on the surface has been spotted on Mars, and the underwater oceans on Europa and several other moons aren't spectulative. Only the precise details of the ocean dimensions and what exactly is living in there, is unknown.

Why do the underwater oceans not count? You didn't see the pictures with the plumes? I'm all for selling people on interstallar matters, but don't talk bs and downplay other things to do it. :-)

[aggressivepipeearth]

Fantastical thinking now qualifies as scientific discovery?

[starwonder]

"THE GREAT RESET"? BY PROFESSOR WALTER VEITH AND MARTIN SMITH YOU TUBE POWERFUL POWERFUL WATCH FROM SOUTH AFRICA ENJOY ❤️🙏🏿😃