Question

Recently, astronomers announced the discovery of a terrestrial planet orbiting the star Alpha Centauri B, which is about 4 light years from the Sun. What can we conclude from this information?

(a) Alpha Centauri is not part of the Milky Way.
(b) It would take the space shuttle almost 400 years to get to Alpha Centauri.
(c) Alpha Centauri must be a Sun-like star.
(d) Any intelligent lifeforms on the newly-discovered planet could already be listening to our radio transmissions.
(e) It would be impossible to take a picture of this planet using a telescope situated on Earth.

Answer 1

Alpha Centauri is part of the Milky Way and consists of Sun-like stars. It would take much longer than 400 years for a space shuttle to reach this star system. While imaging distant planets is difficult, it is not impossible with current technology.

Step-by-step explanation:

Regarding the recent discovery of a terrestrial planet orbiting Alpha Centauri B, we can assess the given options:

(a) Alpha Centauri is part of the Milky Way Galaxy. It is not outside of it, so option (a) is incorrect.

(b) The space shuttle, at its speed (about 28,000 kilometers per hour), would take far longer than 400 years to reach Alpha Centauri. This trip would actually take tens of thousands of years, so option (b) is incorrect.

(c) Alpha Centauri A and B are both Sun-like stars, meaning they are similar in size and type to our Sun. Thus, we can say option (c) is correct.

(d) Concerning intelligent life forms possibly listening to our radio transmissions, it's purely speculative and not a definite conclusion from the discovery of the planet. Therefore, option (d) cannot be determined as correct based on the given information.

(e) It is challenging but not impossible to take pictures of exoplanets using telescopes on Earth. Currently, we have indirect methods like transit photometry and radial velocity, and direct imaging is being improved, so option (e) is incorrect.