The Sword and Laser discussion

http://news.ucsc.edu/2010/09/planet.html

"The researchers estimate that the average surface temperature of the planet is between -24 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-31 to -12 degrees Celsius). Actual temperatures would range from blazing hot on the side facing the star to freezing cold on the dark side.

If Gliese 581g has a rocky composition similar to the Earth's, its diameter would be about 1.2 to 1.4 times that of the Earth. The surface gravity would be about the same or slightly higher than Earth's, so that a person could easily walk upright on the planet, Vogt said."

The planet is a measly 20 light years away!

What do you think? Colonization possibilities? Colony ship are sub-light travel? Is it worth visiting?

I think it'd be cheaper and easier to Terraform Mars, but that's a gut reaction and not based on any empirical data.

But is it Minshara Class?

I say we colonize.

It's interesting, to say the least and we should definitely study the planet for years to come, but I have my doubts about this one. The reason is that I think there has to be a mechanism of change present with a planet in order for something as unpredictable as life to be created. Our mechanism for change is the earth's spin. This creates a change in light and temperature which changes our environment on a daily basis. Since Gliese 581g has a light side and a dark side to the planet, and has been that way presumably for millions of years, it'll be interesting to see if there exists enough elements of change to create life of some kind.

I wonder if the sunny side would be too hot for us to colonize more than just the ring that's on the cusp of light and darkness. The dark side would almost certainly be too cold for us.

This is an unprecedented find!

2nd Habitable Planet. We're living on the first. :)

I also think they are wrong about Gliese 581g being tidally locked. I expect that just like Mercury they'll end up finding that the fault is in the observers not the planet observed.

Has anyone thought to consider if there are, perhaps...beings, on this planet? I mean what are the odds we'd find an earth-like planet that also has life on it already?
I'm just sayin, I tend think astronomically high odds travel in pairs:)