http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/24/health/proxima-b-centauri-rocky-planet-habitable-zone-neighbor-star/ (http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/24/health/proxima-b-centauri-rocky-planet-habitable-zone-neighbor-star/)
Cool stuff!
We have viewed the nearest town from our hillbilly cabin up in the woods, lets go there and gawk at their womenfolk!
I am so there. ;D
OK, should we ride there?
I recently read there is a plan in the works to send a spacecraft to Alpha Centari in the next several years.
Quote from: NAKID on August 25, 2016, 11:31:11 AM
I recently read there is a plan in the works to send a spacecraft to Alpha Centari in the next several years.
It will take a long while to even create and test the means to do it.
Essentially it would be
-launched a shit ton of tiny little probes
-then shoot at each probe with a super powerful laser for as long as possible
-the theory would be the laser will accelerate the little things to 1/5 the speed of light
then there is the problem of cosmic dust destroying them before they even get there
trying to do this in any conventional way would mean the probes would take 1,000s of years to get there.
Quote from: NAKID on August 25, 2016, 11:31:11 AM
I recently read there is a plan in the works to send a spacecraft to Alpha Centari in the next several years.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2102267-interstellar-probes-will-be-eroded-on-the-way-to-alpha-centauri/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2102267-interstellar-probes-will-be-eroded-on-the-way-to-alpha-centauri/)
no matter what, some amazing stuff will be learned just in the development of these things
Bet they send back some unexpected info during their trip well before they even reach the target
Some.....many years from now, all that we know will be blown out of the water.
I'll just leave this here:
https://what-if.xkcd.com/7/
Quote from: Speeddog on August 25, 2016, 12:12:02 PM
I'll just leave this here:
https://what-if.xkcd.com/7/
Damn you! I can't stop clicking next!
I like the absurdity of this one...
https://what-if.xkcd.com/13/ (https://what-if.xkcd.com/13/)
The Plutonians were very unhappy when their land values plummeted after Pluto was no longer deemed to be a planet.
Quote from: NAKID on August 25, 2016, 02:18:31 PM
Damn you! I can't stop clicking next!
I like the absurdity of this one...
https://what-if.xkcd.com/13/ (https://what-if.xkcd.com/13/)
I own that book 8)
Let me know when we can get there in less than a decade. Right now, the best estimate is about 1500 years... for all I know, Proxima B is smushed fly on the telescope lense.
Quote from: ducatiz on August 25, 2016, 04:18:11 PM
Let me know when we can get there in less than a decade. Right now, the best estimate is about 1500 years... for all I know, Proxima B is smushed fly on the telescope lense.
Well, if the light sail theory works, 1/5 light speed would get us there in about 21 years...
If and when we get there, I hope they' didn't make the beast with two backs up the Monster too.
Quote from: kopfjäger on August 25, 2016, 05:49:30 PM
If and when we get there, I hope they' didn't make the beast with two backs up the Monster too.
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
http://www.theonion.com/article/nasa-discovers-distant-planet-located-outside-fund-53595?utm_content=Main&utm_campaign=SF&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=SocialMarketing (http://www.theonion.com/article/nasa-discovers-distant-planet-located-outside-fund-53595?utm_content=Main&utm_campaign=SF&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=SocialMarketing)
Quote from: NAKID on August 25, 2016, 05:34:30 PM
Well, if the light sail theory works, 1/5 light speed would get us there in about 21 years...
sure. and if the unicorn fart powered electron beam works, we can be there in 20 seconds.
The pictures they send back will look awesome on my monitor, right next to the box of Soylent Green.
http://www.sciencealert.com/this-russian-billionaire-has-a-plan-to-travel-to-proxima-b-our-closest-earth-like-planet (http://www.sciencealert.com/this-russian-billionaire-has-a-plan-to-travel-to-proxima-b-our-closest-earth-like-planet)
Given that schedule, I'm not likely to see the pictures.
http://www.businessinsider.com.au/earth-like-planet-proxima-b-colonize-kim-stanley-robinson-aurora-2016-8 (http://www.businessinsider.com.au/earth-like-planet-proxima-b-colonize-kim-stanley-robinson-aurora-2016-8)
Quote from: kopfjäger on August 27, 2016, 11:03:25 PM
http://www.sciencealert.com/this-russian-billionaire-has-a-plan-to-travel-to-proxima-b-our-closest-earth-like-planet (http://www.sciencealert.com/this-russian-billionaire-has-a-plan-to-travel-to-proxima-b-our-closest-earth-like-planet)
(http://www.sciencealert.com/images/articles/processed/milneragain_1024.jpg)
frickin' lasers!
[laugh]
Quote from: kopfjäger on August 25, 2016, 05:49:30 PM
If and when we get there, I hope they' didn't make the beast with two backs up the Monster too.
[clap]