Earlier in the semester, the opinions section published an Our View about support for NASA funding. Various reasons were given, and yet here’s another one.
A new planet, named Kepler 22b, was discovered by NASA’s Kepler space telescope just two years ago, as stated in a Telegraph article. Recently, however, it has been identified as the most similar to Earth than any other planet yet. It is even stated that it has the “right atmosphere” to support life.
Kepler 22b has an average temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit. “Temperatures are just right to allow the existence of surface liquid water throughout its orbit,” the Telegraph article read. “And where there is liquid water, there could also be life.”
One major different between Kepler 22b and Earth, however, is its size. Kepler 22b, also dubbed “super-Earth,” is twice the size of Earth. Another difference is its brightness. Kepler 22b is 25 percent less bright than Earth, due to its orbit.
The star around which Kepler 22b orbits, in the region of the constellations of Lyra and Cygnus…slightly smaller than the Sun and about 25% less bright,” the Telegraph reports. “The planet orbits the star in 290 days, at a distance 15% closer than the Earth is from the Sun. “
According to scientists, Kepler 22b may already be inhabited. And if not, it is inhabitable.
The importance of this lies not only in our ever-growing knowledge, but also about obtaining a clear understanding of what we are, and what we belong to. We inhabit the Earth, which inhabits the Milky Way, which inhabits the universe. Knowing that there exist things much larger than us kind of puts us in our place.
“The telescope, launched by the American space agency Nasa, is watching 155,000 stars looking for tiny drops in brightness that betray the presence of planets,” through the Kepler telescope, so much information can be obtained. Assuring steady financing to NASA is the only way we can acquire information like this.
Even more, it’s important to study astronomy because it allows us to predict events that could happen. Honestly, we should rely on astronomy to assume some “end of the world” event, and not the Mayan calendar.
While we’re on the topic of history, ancient civilizations used astronomy as a form of religion, science and understanding. We must understand astronomy in order to understand our history.
Our sun, our moon, our stars, the planets — and now Kepler 22b, can join us all together to find more about Earth and the universe. In this case, there’s no harm in being curious.
Sonia Guillen is a senior joruanlism major and opinions editor for the Daily 49er.
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