Astronomy/Super Earths

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Expert: Steven LJ Russo - 8/28/2009


Question
Keep hearing about super earths (earths five times larger or more then ours).  Is the importance of finding such earth type planets due to the possibility finding life?  Are we looking to find life as we know it (carbon based) vs other more exotic type planets thus more exotic type life?  Because as I understand it the greater the mass of the planet the higher gravity on it.  So to the best of my understanding is that we can only live on planets which is near to our mass (due to gravity).  Is that true?  Thank you for your time, assistance and patience.  BEG

Answer
Finding those kind of planets is important due to the potential of life.

Well, depending upon how much more mass, we could survive on a planet that is more massive.  Just for example, a person weighing 100 lbs on Earth would weigh about 280 lbs on Jupiter.  Not a lot of weight to worry about surviving there.  

Steve

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Steven LJ Russo

Expertise

As a space science educator in a planetarium, my work centers around teaching people about the night sky and the solar system. I have a strong background in those areas, plus the history of NASA and spaceflight, and meteorology.

Experience

Experience in the area. I have been an amateur astronomer for 47 years, and have been teachng space science in planetariums for 34 years. For 15 years I was a radio and television meteorologist, and for the past 20 years I have been a space science writer for two newspapers in New York State. I am a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society. I have had a number of articles published in several astronomy journals, including "The Constellation" and the "Planetarian". Education/Credentials. I hold a B. S. from Wagner College and an M. S. from State University of New York at Oswego. Awards and Honors. I have been awarded the "Fellows" award from the International Planetarium Society for more than 20 years of continuous service in the planetarium field.

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