NASA Sets News Conference on Astrobiology Discovery...

[sneijder]

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/HQ_M10-16...

...to discuss an astrobiology finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe.

What do you think ? 'impact the search for' means they aren't going to be wheeling out ET, but I hope this is good !

[jmorgan]

One of Saturns moons or that rock from Mars?

Edit. One or two probes have returned stuff in a the last few years, Japan being the recent one.

Edited by jmorgan on Tuesday 30th November 09:01

[Eric Mc]

I wonder is there a Congresional NASA funding debate in the offing?

[Derek Smith]

sneijder said:

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/HQ_M10-16...

...to discuss an astrobiology finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe.

What do you think ? 'impact the search for' means they aren't going to be wheeling out ET, but I hope this is good !

Of those contributing have any got connections with any of the current missions to other planets/moons?

It's quite exciting, isn't it.

[zakelwe]

Didn't they detect oxygen on another planet recently, I would guess it might be about that.

Andy

[Eric Mc]

My guess is that they have found an earth-like planet orbiting a reasonably nearby star.
I am expecting an anouncement of this nature any time soon as we are finding new planets at an amazing rate and it is only a matter of time before a pseudo-earth is discovered.

[ewenm]

Derek Smith said:

It's quite exciting, isn't it.

Very

Finally some interesting news after lots of

• UK not prepared for snow (again!)
• Diplomats aren't always diplomatic in private (who'd'a'thunk it!)
• Reality TV not very real...

[The real Apache]

Eric Mc said:

I wonder is there a Congresional NASA funding debate in the offing?

That's how I read it, NASA desperately need some direction and funding

[Derek Smith]

Eric Mc said:

My guess is that they have found an earth-like planet orbiting a reasonably nearby star.

Do you mean relatively nearby?

But I reckon you might well be right about the Earth clone.

[thinfourth2]

Micheal Jackson isn't dead

He went home

[Eric Mc]

Derek Smith said:

Eric Mc said:

My guess is that they have found an earth-like planet orbiting a reasonably nearby star.

Do you mean relatively nearby?

But I reckon you might well be right about the Earth clone.

Both or either.

Within 100 light years.

[turbobloke]

Elvis sent a text message from the dark side of the Moon?

Or NASA needs more funding?

[jmorgan]

Or something from Mars itself?

If it is another planet, how much detail can they get on the atmosphere nowadays? I thought it was somewhat limited. Habital zone does not mean there is anything there but it isn't half half intriguing if it is.

[Eric Mc]

jmorgan said:

Or something from Mars itself?

If it is another planet, how much detail can they get on the atmosphere nowadays? I thought it was somewhat limited. Habital zone does not mean there is anything there but it isn't half half intriguing if it is.

Quite a bit of info on extra-solar planetary atmospheres can now be gleaned. There was a report in this month's Sky at Night mag about the ability to detect hot spots in the atmosphere of some extra-solar planets.

[Derek Smith]

Eric Mc said:

Derek Smith said:

Eric Mc said:

My guess is that they have found an earth-like planet orbiting a reasonably nearby star.

Do you mean relatively nearby?

But I reckon you might well be right about the Earth clone.

Both or either.

Within 100 light years.

Now I'm not one to be piccy - hold on, message just coming in: oh, it seems I am - but 600 trillion miles, given a foot or two either way, does not come within my definition of nearby.

If you are right then: At last!

As long as we don't have to bail them out because they've overspent.

[Eric Mc]

In astronomical terms, 100 light years is not very far away.

And we are talking about an astronomical subject - maybe

Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 30th November 10:33

[cottonfoo]

We should be receiving images of Hitler opening the 1936 olympics soonish then, probably packed full of information on a sub-carrier.

[Eric Mc]

cottonfoo said:

We should be receiving images of Hitler opening the 1936 olympics soonish then, probably packed full of information on a sub-carrier.

I'd prefer to see BBC's live TV coverage of motor racing from the Crystal Palace ca 1938.

[jmorgan]

Eric Mc said:

jmorgan said:

Or something from Mars itself?

If it is another planet, how much detail can they get on the atmosphere nowadays? I thought it was somewhat limited. Habital zone does not mean there is anything there but it isn't half half intriguing if it is.

Quite a bit of info on extra-solar planetary atmospheres can now be gleaned. There was a report in this month's Sky at Night mag about the ability to detect hot spots in the atmosphere of some extra-solar planets.

Darn. I have let my subscription lapse.

[DangerousMike]

dont be too cynical about the motive for the press conference - it clearly says on that website that they have a paper being published in Science, which will come out Thursday/Friday.

Its usual for the findings to be embargoed by Science (so they get the 'exclusive') when you publish with them.

I would be surprised if it's an exoplanet as I think detection of these is nowadays fairly routine. SUppose you can't rule it out though.

fossils in rocks or something?