A question for wcowherd

[ag-man]

You seem to have a pretty good grasp of technology, and seem very interested in space exploration.

Am I correct that we have located a planet called Kepler 452 B, that is 60% bigger than earth, that revolves around a star 10% bigger than our sun?

Further more, it is the closest planet to earth that we know of?

So what I do not understand, if we had the technology 46 years ago to send a man to the moon, how are we just now finding this planet?

 

[Neutron Monster]

Cliff notes answer: It's very hard to see and fully evaluate planets that are close to other stars

Our telescopes are a lot better than they once where. Can estimate sizes of bodies, distance from the earth, can see much smaller bodies, can discern smaller bodies that are next to stars, etc. so much better now

 

[Wildcat98]

Now his little head is spinning.

 

[Neutron Monster]

One other thing I thought of - the earth's atmosphere gets in the way here. We use space telescopes for a lot of the major discoveries.

 

[ag-man]

Cliff notes answer: It's very hard to see and fully evaluate planets that are close to other stars

Our telescopes are a lot better than they once where. Can estimate sizes of bodies, distance from the earth, can see much smaller bodies, can discern smaller bodies that are next to stars, etc. so much better now

Yes, I guess my little head is spinning,

If out telescopes are better now than in the 60's, why are we just now finding a planet that is bigger than earth, and closer than the moon?

 

[wcowherd]

Yes, I guess my little head is spinning,

If out telescopes are better now than in the 60's, why are we just now finding a planet that is bigger than earth, and closer than the moon?

Because space is big. We've looked at a fractional amount of it. Also, the stuff we see today happened thousands of years ago. Everyday we get new information about what's out there and what's happening to our universe.

 

[Bogey Man]

Also, the stuff we see today happened thousands of years ago

His little head just exploded.

 

[Neutron Monster]

Yes, I guess my little head is spinning,

If out telescopes are better now than in the 60's, why are we just now finding a planet that is bigger than earth, and closer than the moon?

I don't think I understand the question...what do you mean by closer than the moon?

 

[Neutron Monster]

Because space is big. We've looked at a fractional amount of it. Also, the stuff we see today happened thousands of years ago. Everyday we get new information about what's out there and what's happening to our universe.

This is true, too, space is infinitely big.

We're trying to find needles in a grand canyon full of hay.

 

[ag-man]

I don't think I understand the question...what do you mean by closer than the moon?

According to the radio station I was listening to, they said it was the closest planet to earth and 60% larger.

 

[Neutron Monster]

by closest to earth, they meant closest to our orbit time around a star I think. Not closest in distance

 

[ag-man]

by closest to earth, they meant closest to our orbit time around a star I think. Not closest in distance

That could be, I might not have caught the whole story.

 

[Wildcat98]

Nothing new.

 

[Sleepless_in_Jefferson_County]

According to the radio station I was listening to, they said it was the closest planet to earth and 60% larger.

Potentially the most like earth.

 

[Sleepless_in_Jefferson_County]

Yes, I guess my little head is spinning,

If out telescopes are better now than in the 60's, why are we just now finding a planet that is bigger than earth, and closer than the moon?

Credibility ruined if this was a serious question/statement.

 

[Scout 4u]

You seem to have a pretty good grasp of technology, and seem very interested in space exploration.

Am I correct that we have located a planet called Kepler 452 B, that is 60% bigger than earth, that revolves around a star 10% bigger than our sun?

Further more, it is the closest planet to earth that we know of?

So what I do not understand, if we had the technology 46 years ago to send a man to the moon, how are we just now finding this planet?

Kepler 462b is 1400 light years away from our Sun.

AlphaCentauri is 4 light years away from our Sun making it the closest star system to us.

Believe me, I live many Worlds from here...I would know.