Futurology

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For the first time ever, an exoplanet has been discovered via direct imaging. (www.nature.com)

submitted 4 months ago by Lugh to c/futurology

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[–] Lugh 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

They are pretty grainy images, but its amazing to think we are able to look at another solar system 12 light years away. It's worth noting that space agencies around the world are ramping up efforts to get more detailed data about solar systems and their exoplanets within 100 light-years of Earth. Estimates vary, but that is thought to include 12,000 - 15,000 solar systems. Presumably, the exoplanet tally will be 100,000. If microbial life is widespread in the Universe, it seems a near-certainty it will have to be in some of these.