"Alpha Centauri is a special star - not only because it is the closest stellar system to the sun but also because it is one of the relatively few places in the Milky Way Galaxy that may offer terrestrial life conditions. If humanity looks for intelligent life elsewhere, then Alpha Centauri is an excellent candidate."
This reminds me of the argument that if we find life "next door" on Mars -- and the odds are we've already found it -- then ubiquitous alien life becomes a virtual certainty.
If we have intelligent neighbors as close as Alpha Centauri, it's probable the stars are swarming with ETs . . .
1 comment:
I wasn't impressed with the article's arguments. Even though, theoretically, both A.C. A and A.C. B allow stable orbits within 2 AUs, I've read elsewhere that close binary and multiple star systems probably AREN'T good candidates for stable planetary systems let alone life. For one thing, during star formation itself, the smaller star (B) quite likely swept up most of the material that would otherwise form planets. Of course, I'm no expert and this is pure speculation. I hope I'm wrong. We wouldn't even need a warp drive. We could get there in a single lifetime at "just" 10% the speed of light!
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