Astronomers at the University of New South Wales have discovered a new super-Earth orbiting near the Gliese 832 zone, Sci-News reports. It’s about 16 light-years away (94,055,997,000,000 miles) and about half the mass and radius of the Sun. Dubbed Gliese 832c, it’s neighbored by Gliese 832b, a cold Jupiter-like planet.
“With an outer giant planet and an interior potentially rocky planet, this planetary system can be thought of as a miniature version of our Solar System,” said University of New South Wales Prof Chris Tinney. “If the planet has a similar atmosphere to Earth it may be possible for life to survive, although seasonal shifts would be extreme.”
Its orbital period is 35.68 days. It has a mass 5.4 times that of Earth’s. It also “receives about the same average energy as Earth does from the Sun.” Let the flights of imagination begin, and take the human race with it, “possibly.” Maybe this time we can try solar energy and not fuck this up? (Image: PHL / UPR Arecibo)