Kepler and planets....many planets

[bojan]

I regularly read this web page (http://www.centauri-dreams.org/) ... Latest article on what Kepler is dealing with is most interesting (page is frequently updated.. so the article may already be pushed lower)

http://www.centauri-dreams.org/?p=17381

[CraigS]

A nicely biased article.

I see no consideration of what will happen if we find no evidence !
Lots of exciting things might happen if this is the case, but why is no-one willing to consider these ?


I am an optimist also, but why does this mean that scientists have to believe that exo-life exists in the first place ? There are lots of answers to this question also .. including his boyhood dream … and a need for funding research. I have no such need, because I have no vested interests one way or the other. I also support funding it !.


The impatience he mentions surely comes from his not seeing his expectation fulfilled ! Alter the expectation, and impatience becomes irrelevant.

Does this mean we get creative in interpreting the observations, also ?
Who is this guy (Paul Glister)? … I'll make a point of not trusting any reports of anything coming from him in the future !


If this guy, (the astrophysicist, this time), wants a 'kick in the pants', try contemplating non-existence of exo-life.
And please, don't include me in the category of wanting a 'kick in the pants' !
Hit me ! Hit me ! Hit me !

Seriously, if I want a dose of this perspective, I'll go watch an episode of Star Trek .. at least that doesn't masquerade under a facade of an unbiased review of peer-reviewed literature !

Completely lacking in any semblance of authenticity and thus for me, credibility.

Cheers

[bojan]

Yes, this website is a bit biased.. mildly put.
But it's worth having a look from time to time.
The only reason I posted the link was actually the picture: it is a nice presentation of what Kepler is dealing with and what are the results so far.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/1103/KeplerSunsPlanets_rowe.jpg

[CraigS]

Yes fair enough, Bojan. Nice graphic.

But what do you make of it ?

Cheers

[bojan]

Well, it is a single-graphic presentation of Kepler mission results: Stars and transiting planets detected so far (plus our own Sun, with Jupiter and Earth), same scale..

It came from here:
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110329.html
(perhaps I should've post this link in a first place... but I didn't know of it then)

[CraigS]

Very diplomatic.

Perhaps a good competitor for an art competition prize.

Here's another one (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=72096&highlight=Kepler) ...

Cheers

[Karls48]

In my opinion it is extremely important for scientists to find some kind of life existence elsewhere. If no life is found in our solar system (and it may take another hundred years to be reasonable sure of it) a lot of people will interpret it as there is no other life except here on Earth. If there is not life in whole Universe then concept of some kind of god or creator will become very valid alternative to current worldview. Remember that many scientists believe in or belong one religion or other. I think that finding life or lack of it is most fundamental question that science needs to answer. It will eventually determine our understanding of basic questions such as where the Universe come from and why? That is why some scientist are so desperate to find life elsewhere.
And before someone blast me as religious nut - I’m atheist / agnostic.

[bojan]

Craig, there is nothing wrong with combination of art and science.. provided it is clearly stated (after all, what's all of us with pretty pictures are doing here on this forum? Some are even claiming truly artistic achievements with their long exposures and hours of data processing..).

IMHO, visual presentations like this example are extremely important part of popularisation of science... and it's not even in-accurate...

[CraigS]

Why not: 'No other life elsewhere in the Solar System (only)' ?
… after all, that's all that finding none in the Solar System means, isn't it ?


How can anybody ever prove there is not life in the whole universe ?
As a matter of fact, we already have life in the whole universe .. but this says nothing about life outside Earth !


And a lot don't .. so what's this got to do with the evidence ?


What does 'finding life elsewhere in the universe' have to do with answering 'where did the universe come from, and why' ?

I haven't heard of these particular scientists .. who are they ?


What are trying to say Karl, are you Atheist or Agnostic ?

Cheers