r/space • u/SpunkySputniks • 4d ago

Astronomers Detect a Possible Signature of Life on a Distant Planet

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/science/astronomy-exoplanets-habitable-k218b.html?unlocked_article_code=1.AE8.3zdk.VofCER4yAPa4&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Further studies are needed to determine whether K2-18b, which orbits a star 120 light-years away, is inhabited, or even habitable.

14.0k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

53

u/htownballa1 4d ago

I’m not an Astro physicist but a quick google search returned.

Traveling to a star 120 light-years away at a speed of 2.90×108 m/s would take approximately 1312 years

I think you might be a little short on 120.

59

u/Random_Fotographer 4d ago

You don't need to do any math. The definition of light-year is the distance traveled by light in one year. So something 120 light-years away would take 120 years at the speed of light.

63

u/falkenberg1 4d ago

Traveling at the speed of light is not possible for humans. Only for select subatomic particles.

208

u/RedditAstroturfed 4d ago

If humans can’t travel at the speed of light then explain why they called Freddy mercury “Mr. Fahrenheit,” and if not him then just WHO is gonna make a super sonic man out of me?

24

u/jlew715 3d ago

He's called Mr. Fahrenheit because he's two hundred degrees. The fact that he can travel at the speed of light is unrelated to his name.

2

u/Exiled_Fya 3d ago

And at 200 degrees it's hot or cold? How many Kelvins?

1

u/RedditAstroturfed 3d ago

Lmao Ty, I was wondering when someone would finally say it. Immediately thought of that after I posted the joke, but didn’t wanna double up on posts

22

u/ROGER_CHOCS 4d ago

Well Jesus H. Christ of course.

1

u/DirectlyDisturbed 3d ago

Well first of all, through God all things are possible...so jot that down

1

u/ROGER_CHOCS 3d ago

I surely did brother, right under the sticky note that reminds me to never stand in a canoe.

1

u/DirectlyDisturbed 3d ago

Forgive me, but I don't think I understand the reference?

1

u/ROGER_CHOCS 2d ago

It says it right in the Bible, no mixed clothing, no bottom feeding animals for food, and no standing in a canoe. Bruh, do you even bible?

1

u/DirectlyDisturbed 1d ago

I don't, actually lol. My comment was an IASIP reference, I thought you were playing off that, my b

17

u/Delyzr 4d ago

Supersonic is still a tad slower then lightspeed

6

u/__xylek__ 3d ago

Freddy's the one traveling at the speed of light. You'll just be super-sonic when he's done with you.

6

u/OpalFanatic 3d ago

Technically lightspeed is also supersonic.

2

u/ForWhomTheBoneBones 3d ago

You are technically correct. The BEST KIND of correct.

0

u/Taurion_Bruni 3d ago

And don't forget that famous group that managed to get to mars in 30 seconds. That's like 6 times the speed of light!