Seven earth-sized planets discovered circling a star 39 light years from Earth

Re:Seven earth-sized planets discovered circling a star 39 l... by fsloth on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @01:34PM (#13707852)

"Due to its mass, the star has the ability to live for up to 4–5 trillion years"

So when the rest of the universe cools off and stars start to die, Trappist one keeps on shining and shining... We need to get there. But first, let's get rid of our genocidal tendencies.

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Re:Seven earth-sized planets discovered circling a star 39 l... by lutorm on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @02:41PM (#13708524)

It's not just that one. The vast majority of stars, by number (but not by light), are stars like these. The universe might dim, but it won't be dark for a long, long time.

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Re:Seven earth-sized planets discovered circling a star 39 l... by fsloth on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @03:17PM (#13708797)

Yes, in all bayesian likeness this is a class of star systems that populates the universe. Suddenly the universe does not seem so dark and foreboding anymore.

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Re:Seven earth-sized planets discovered circling a star 39 l... by ucontrol on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @06:07PM (#13710128)

The optimism in this thread regarding the practical feasibility of long-distance space travel is encouraging. I truly hope it's just another hurdle for us to technologically overcome, rather than an insurmountable barrier.

Even if it weren't doable, who knows what kind of destiny awaits us as our mastery over physics advances.

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Re:Seven earth-sized planets discovered circling a star 39 l... by timdeneau on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @03:14PM (#13708775)

Don’t worry, in five billion years that will be some other Earthling’s problem.

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