Kepler composite image showing 1,235 potential alien planets

[Godhumor]

Set up in scale from largest star to smallest. Each image shows a "planet" in shadow passing in front of the star. Truly an incredible image

?1301701583

Read more about the image at:
http://www.livescience.com/13540-nasa-alien-planets-image-1235-exoplanets.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Livesciencecom+%28LiveScience.com+Science+Headline+Feed%29

[canetoad]

1. Very cool

Thanks for posting.

[global1]

2. If We Had To Abandon Earth & Find Another Inhabitable Planet I Wonder......

if when we got there - we do it right next time? Would we be civilized? Would we have no wars? Could people live in peace?

[Angry Dragon]

3. Trading a dream for a nightmare??

[Shandris]

7. Honestly, I sincerely doubt it.

With so many choices, I'd probably start from a position of 'let them have theirs and we can take ours' but be open to reconsideration in light of a good argument.

Some people are simply going to enjoy hurting, abusing, stealing, killing, embarrassing, harassing, and controlling other people. It's not some lesson that they're going to learn, or if it is, they won't learn it until they're on their deathbed.

But, that's just my initial thoughts on it and I'm still waking up. :)

[krispos42]

8. I think for a while we could

Point 1: to get there, we would have an advanced power source, probably nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion (unlike nuclear fission) is a clean source of plentiful. So, no oil, coal, or natural gas would be burned except, perhaps, for air or sea transport. And if the seagoing ships were big enough, they could probably mount their own fusion plant.

Point 2: Once we got there, we would have plentiful orbital surveys to help locate natural resources. Colonies would be established so that these resources could be used. However, since nobody would be there initially, there would be no wars of conquest.

Point 3: with an entire planet to spread out on, there would be no crowding. Societal malcontents could simply leave and relocate someplace else, as well.

Point 4: with the colonies all having knowledge of advanced agricultural techniques and able to pick the "garden spots" on the planet, I don't think famine would be an issue for a while.

[Godhumor]

9. But that all comes crashing down as soon as one part turns out to be "nicer" than the other

Especially in the early days of colonization when, regardless of technology available, that picking the wrong place could spell disaster. If people spread out it would only be a matter of time before someone decided they got the short end of the stick, in my opinion.

[krispos42]

12. Well That would be years down the road from the landing

"Garden spot"differs widely from person to person so they will that diversity going for them. Past that, it will depend on having good trade policies and good transportation for that trade to work.

[Godhumor]

4. bumping for the day crew n/t

[grahamhgreen]

5. Wait. Where's DC?

[pintobean]

6. It's time to beef up security on the boarders of our solar system

:-)

[Mz Pip]

10. Build a fence!

Maybe Sarah can become a spokesmodel for that project.

[pintobean]

11. I'll bet the vast majority of these planets aren't even blue.

[a la izquierda]

13. If Han Solo lives on one, I'm sold.

Yummmmm....