Before humans ever ventured into space, we fantasized about visiting—and even living on—other planets. As technology continues to develop, it may one day be possible for humans to call planets other than Earth home. Space scientists have several possible Earth-like planets and moons in sight, but one that is of high interest is Kepler-186f, a planet 500 light years away. It orbits a star much like the Sun, and it orbits in a habitable zone: it is far enough from the star to allow for the pooling of water (if it is present) on the planet's surface.
Is being in a "habitable zone" enough to say the planet is habitable for human life? What characteristics would an Earth-like planet need to have to support life? What challenges would we face traveling to and colonizing Kepler-186f, or other Earth-like planets outside of our solar system? Do you think scientists should spend time looking for Earth-like planets before we have the technology to visit them? Why or why not?
Answers
Explanation:
Before humans ever ventured into space, we fantasized about visiting—and even living on—other planets. As technology continues to develop, it may one day be possible for humans to call planets other than Earth home. Space scientists have several possible Earth-like planets and moons in sight, but one that is of high interest is Kepler-186f, a planet 500 light years away. It orbits a star much like the Sun, and it orbits in a habitable zone: it is far enough from the star to allow for the pooling of water (if it is present) on the planet's surface.
Is being in a "habitable zone" enough to say the planet is habitable for human life? What characteristics would an Earth-like planet need to have to support life? What challenges would we face traveling to and colonizing Kepler-186f, or other Earth-like planets outside of our solar system? Do you think scientists should spend time looking for Earth-like planets before we have the technology to visit them? Why or why not?
Explanation:
Before humans ever ventured into space, we fantasized about visiting—and even living on—other planets. As technology continues to develop, it may one day be possible for humans to call planets other than Earth home. Space scientists have several possible Earth-like planets and moons in sight, but one that is of high interest is Kepler-186f, a planet 500 light years away. It orbits a star much like the Sun, and it orbits in a habitable zone: it is far enough from the star to allow for the pooling of water (if it is present) on the planet's surface.
Is being in a "habitable zone" enough to say the planet is habitable for human life? What characteristics would an Earth-like planet need to have to support life? What challenges would we face traveling to and colonizing Kepler-186f, or other Earth-like planets outside of our solar system? Do you think scientists should spend time looking for Earth-like planets before we have the technology to visit them? Why or w