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Cosmic Transmissions – Small Star Cosmic Transmissions – Small Star
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The first image of exoplanet 2M1207b, VLT, ESO, 2004. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Outer Space

Cosmic Transmissions – Small Star

Łukasz Kaniewski
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time 6 minutes
Łukasz Kaniewski:
He writes about space, which is where he lives. He has mess on his desk (and likes to rhyme all the time). He uses public transport.

Small Star, Large Problem

Astronomers from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias announced that they have discovered two planets orbiting around a star called Gliese 1002—a red dwarf in the Cetus constellation. They are both at least as big as Earth and both travel within the habitable zone of their host star, i.e., within a distance which allows for the presence of liquid water on their surface. Theoretically, then, they could be home to life resembling that on Earth. However, upon further analysis, such hypothetical life would in practice have to overcome many obstacles.

Let’s start with the fact that Gliese 1002 is a small star (12% of the sun’s mass) and it doesn’t emit much energy—any habitable celestial bodies would need to orbit it at quite a small distance. The closeness of the host star means that a phenomenon called tidal locking might occur. This refers to the same side of the planet always being turned

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Łukasz Kaniewski:
He writes about space, which is where he lives. He has mess on his desk (and likes to rhyme all the time). He uses public transport.
Translation: Marta Dziurosz
Publish date: 17.03.2023

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Drawing: Marek Raczkowski
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Łukasz Lamża:
is a philosopher of nature who writes popular scientific articles, particularly in “Tygodnik Powszechny”. He’s specifically trained in astrophysics and cosmology, but fortunately he sometimes comes down to Earth.

The more science helps us explain the world, the less we need our imaginations. We strip reality of everything that is uncertain and intangible. Nevertheless, fantasizing is still something worthwhile—so let’s embark on a bold journey to the very edge of modern physics. 

The World Has Become Boring to Us. 

Just a few centuries ago, local villages and forests were teeming with mystical beings: house spirits and water nymphs, banshees, ghouls, and ghosts, in addition to various minor deities. Far-off lands were thought to be inhabited by bizarre creatures such as monopods and dog-headed men, and sailors returning from distant voyages spoke of encountering mermaids and monstrous krakens—provided they hadn’t fallen off the edge of the earth. The inferno of hell raged beneath our feet, while the heavens above us—divided into sublunar, superlunar, and ethereal realms—were vibrantly inhabited by the spirits of our departed, fairies, angels, archangels, seraphim, celestial thrones, and God knows who or what else. Within us, in the profound depths of our souls, flickered the faint echoes of divine wisdom and subtle whispers from muses and demons. 

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