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ESPRESSO and CARMENES Discover Two Potentially Habitable Exo-Earths Around a Star Near the Sun
Introduction
In a groundbreaking discovery, the ESPRESSO and CARMENES instruments have detected two potentially habitable exoplanets orbiting a star near the sun. This discovery has significant implications for the search for extraterrestrial life and our understanding of the universe.
What are ESPRESSO and CARMENES?
ESPRESSO
ESPRESSO (Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanet and Stable Spectroscopic Observations) is a high-resolution spectrograph that is installed on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. It is designed to detect exoplanets by measuring the tiny wobbles in a star's motion caused by the gravitational pull of orbiting planets.
CARMENES
CARMENES (Calar Alto high-Resolution search for M dwarfs with Exoearths with Near-infrared and optical Échelle Spectrographs) is a similar instrument installed on the Calar Alto Observatory in Spain. It is designed to detect exoplanets orbiting low-mass stars, which are the most common type of star in the galaxy.
The Discovery
Using ESPRESSO and CARMENES, astronomers detected two exoplanets orbiting the star GJ 887, which is located just 11 light-years away from Earth. The two planets, named GJ 887b and GJ 887c, are both rocky, with masses similar to Earth's.
GJ 887b orbits the star every 9.3 days, while GJ 887c has a longer orbit of 21.8 days. Both planets are located in the star's habitable zone, which is the region around a star where temperatures are just right for liquid water to exist on the surface of a planet.
Implications for the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
The discovery of two potentially habitable exoplanets around a star near the sun is a significant step forward in the search for extraterrestrial life. The fact that these planets are rocky and located in the habitable zone of their star means that they could potentially support life as we know it.
The next step will be to study the atmospheres of these planets to determine if they contain the necessary elements for life, such as oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen. This will require the use of more advanced instruments, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, which is set to launch in 2021.
Conclusion
The discovery of two potentially habitable exoplanets around a star near the sun is a major breakthrough in the search for extraterrestrial life. The use of advanced instruments such as ESPRESSO and CARMENES has allowed astronomers to detect these planets and study their properties in detail. The next step will be to study their atmospheres and determine if they could support life.
FAQs
Q1. What is an exoplanet?
An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside of our solar system.
Q2. What is the habitable zone?
The habitable zone is the region around a star where temperatures are just right for liquid water to exist on the surface of a planet.
Q3. How do astronomers detect exoplanets?
Astronomers detect exoplanets by measuring the tiny wobbles in a star's motion caused by the gravitational pull of orbiting planets.
Q4. What is the James Webb Space Telescope?
The James Webb Space Telescope is a large, infrared telescope that is set to launch in 2021. It will be used to study the atmospheres of exoplanets and search for signs of life.
Q5. How far away is GJ 887?
GJ 887 is located just 11 light-years away from Earth.
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