Space
Aliens Can Be Found After 11 Years? Rare Celestial Event To Make It Possible
Sam D
First Posted: Oct 25, 2016 05:00 AM EDT
A rare celestial occurrence predicted to take place in May 2028 can help mankind in the search for aliens, according to recent reports. The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has reportedly predicted a rare gravitational lensing event during which we can get a closer look at Earth-like planets that orbit stars nearest to our solar system.
The prediction, which came soon after the discovery of Earth-like planet Proxima B, is based on the trajectories of Alpha Centauri A and B. Both are actually a fast-moving pair of stars in our nearest neighboring star system. Incidentally, astronomers have predicted the movement of stars for the next 34 years using both new and archive data.
So how will the rare gravitational lensing event help in the search for aliens?
The discovery of Proxima B hailed as a planet similar to ours with 1.3 times the mass of Earth, which could have oceans and perhaps even the right conditions to support life, is perceived by the members of the scientific community as a good place to search for aliens. The planet orbits its host star, the Proxima Centauri that is located about four light years away, within a temperate zone about 7.5 million kilometers away.
When the gravitational lensing event occurs in 2028, the light from a distant object will be bend around a nearer star by its gravitational field which will give us the chance to look not only for planets neighboring the solar system, but also the opportunity to get a clearer look at them. After 11 years, the Alpha Centauri A is going to move in front of a red giant star called the S5, as per current predictions.
"In May 2028, there is a strong chance that the light from S5 will create an Einstein ring around Alpha Centauri A, observable with ESO's telescopes," ESO stated. "This would provide a unique opportunity to look for planetary or low-mass objects in our nearest star system." Now, it seems only time will tell how fruitful the rare gravitational event will be for our search for aliens.
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NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone
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First Posted: Oct 25, 2016 05:00 AM EDT
A rare celestial occurrence predicted to take place in May 2028 can help mankind in the search for aliens, according to recent reports. The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has reportedly predicted a rare gravitational lensing event during which we can get a closer look at Earth-like planets that orbit stars nearest to our solar system.
The prediction, which came soon after the discovery of Earth-like planet Proxima B, is based on the trajectories of Alpha Centauri A and B. Both are actually a fast-moving pair of stars in our nearest neighboring star system. Incidentally, astronomers have predicted the movement of stars for the next 34 years using both new and archive data.
So how will the rare gravitational lensing event help in the search for aliens?
The discovery of Proxima B hailed as a planet similar to ours with 1.3 times the mass of Earth, which could have oceans and perhaps even the right conditions to support life, is perceived by the members of the scientific community as a good place to search for aliens. The planet orbits its host star, the Proxima Centauri that is located about four light years away, within a temperate zone about 7.5 million kilometers away.
When the gravitational lensing event occurs in 2028, the light from a distant object will be bend around a nearer star by its gravitational field which will give us the chance to look not only for planets neighboring the solar system, but also the opportunity to get a clearer look at them. After 11 years, the Alpha Centauri A is going to move in front of a red giant star called the S5, as per current predictions.
"In May 2028, there is a strong chance that the light from S5 will create an Einstein ring around Alpha Centauri A, observable with ESO's telescopes," ESO stated. "This would provide a unique opportunity to look for planetary or low-mass objects in our nearest star system." Now, it seems only time will tell how fruitful the rare gravitational event will be for our search for aliens.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone