Expert: Philip Stahl - 5/7/2007

Question
Are all the stars that we see at night just like our sun?
Is it possible that planets could be revolving around the stars we see at night and hold life?


Answer
Hello,

In fact, most of the stars visible at night are *not* like our Sun. Many are Red Giants (e.g. Betelgeuse, Antares) and others are much hotter-blue white stars (e.g. Spica) while our Sun is a yellow dwarf star.

The nearest similar star to our Sun that is visible (mainly in the couthern skies) is Alpha Centauri.

It is certainly possible that other planets could be revolving around the stars we see. Indeed, more than two dozen planets have been discovered orbiting other stars. However, with the exception of the most recent one on an "Earth like" planet (Gliese 581c), most are not believed to have any chance of harboring life.

Even for Gliese 581c life is doubtful, because the planet is so close to its parent star.

While the currently discovered worlds are unlikely to harbor life forms, it is almost certain that life is out there. Somewhere.

It may just be on much more distant worlds that we haven't discovered yet. Or perhaps in another galaxy, say like the Andromeda galaxy.